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Glite Dictionary
dormitive virtue

dormitive virtue

9.9
A quality that makes someone or something fall asleep
  • noun
  • /ˈdɔːrmɪtɪv ˈvɜːrtjuː/
  • Archaic
translation icon : virtud dormitiva
  • The herbal tea has a strong dormitive virtue that helps people relax before bed.

Examples

  • The doctor mentioned the dormitive virtue of the new medication during his lecture.

  • Some herbs are prized for their dormitive virtue and are used as natural sleep aids.

  • Philosophers sometimes mock explanations that rely solely on the term dormitive virtue.

  • The herbal tea has a strong dormitive virtue.

  • Many plants possess dormitive virtues that help with sleep.

  • Some herbs are prized for their dormitive virtue and are used as natural sleep aids.

  • Many plants possess dormitive virtues that promote restful sleep and aid in relaxation.

How Sleep-Inducing

soporific
3 8.6
dormitive virtue
  • Archaic
9.9
calming
6 2.6

Surface Forms

dormitive virtue singular
dormitive virtues plural

Morphology

dormitive + virtue

The meaning 'a property that causes sleep' is directly derivable from combining 'dormitive' (promoting sleep) with 'virtue' used in the sense 'quality' or 'property'. This compositional reading is straightforward and parallels cross-linguistic uses of 'virtue' = property, so a learner who knows both constituents would understand it.

Etymology

Dormitive virtue may come from old doctors who used the Latin words to describe a drug's 'sleep-making' power. They used dormitive for 'sleep-making' and virtue for 'power', so the phrase now means a property that 'causes sleep' and is also used to mock explanations that just repeat the fact.