somnifère

sleeping pill

noun som-nee-FAIR Rare

Origin: Latin somnus (sleep) + ferre (to carry/bring)

Usage Note

Somnifère can also be used as an adjective meaning 'sleep-inducing'. A related word is soporifique (soporific), which is more literary and often used figuratively to describe a boring speech or film. Prendre un somnifère is the standard phrase for taking a sleeping pill; the plural somnifères is common in medical contexts.

Examples

"Le médecin lui a prescrit des somnifères temporairement."

Natural Translation

The doctor prescribed him sleeping pills temporarily.

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