Tranquiliser

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A pharmacological agent that alleviates anxiety and agitation while inducing a calming effect on the mind and body
2. A medication designed to induce tranquility by reducing nervous excitement and promoting relaxation
3. A substance used medically to ease nervous tension and promote a peaceful mental state

Etymology: The word is a straightforward formation: "tranquilize" with the agent suffix "-er" added, meaning something that tranquilizes. The verb "tranquilize" is itself a later English creation built on the adjective "tranquil," which came into English from Latin "tranquillus," meaning calm or quiet. The "-er" ending comes down through Old French "-ier" from Latin "-arius," a suffix used for people and things connected with an activity or function, and it reached English as "-er" through the Middle English period. Here the suffix does the work of naming the agent: a tranquilizer is the thing that produces the tranquil state. The spelling with "s" is the British variant of the same word, following the British preference for "-ise" endings over "-ize."

Synonyms: sedative, calmative, soothing agent, relaxant, anxiolytic

Antonyms: stimulant, excitant, agitation