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Added 9 October 2026

hypnotic

/hɪpˈnɒ.tɪk/ noun

Latin root: hypnoticus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about hypnotic at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A drug that induces sleep.

adjective

Of or relating to hypnosis.
Attracting and holding interest as if by a spell.
read the bedtime story in a hypnotic voice

Origin

From French hypnotique (“inclined to sleep, soporific”), from Late Latin hypnoticus, from Ancient Greek ὑπνωτικός (hupnōtikós, “inclined to sleep, putting to sleep, sleepy”), from ὑπνοῦν (hupnoûn, “to put to sleep”), from ὕπνος (húpnos, “sleep”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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