a. and sb.; also 6–7 -in, -ine. [ad. L. anōdyn-us (Celsus, etc.), a. Gr. ἀνώδυν-ος painless, f. ἀν priv. + ὀδύνη pain. Cf. Fr. anodin -e (16th c. in Littré), whence also the obs. Eng. spelling in -in, -ine.]
A. adj.
1. Having the power of assuaging pain.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., V. xv. 161. Anodyne remedyes, whych do swage payne.
1643. Steer, Exp. Chyrurg., vi. 26. To ease paine apply this Anodine Medicine about the sore.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 212. Tar and Beeswax makes a Plaister that is discussive and anodine.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 40, ¶ 6. The anodyne necklace for … toothing infants.
1859. G. Wilson, E. Forbes, iv. 127. The chief … sleep-producing … anodyne virtues of the opium.
2. fig. Soothing to the mind or feelings.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 105. The anodyne draught of oblivion.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res. (1858), 69. Probably Imposture is of sanative, anodyne nature, and man’s Gullibility not his worst blessing.
B. sb. (So Gr. ἀνώδυνον, L. anodynum, which were also in early use in Eng.)
1. A medicine or drug that alleviates pain.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg. (1586), 431. Things which are without griefe, are called in Greke, Anodina. Howbeit Vigo useth the word for things that remove paine.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, VI. xc. 774. Softening playsters, anodines which take away payne and griefe.
1625. Hart, Anat. Ur., II. iv. 69. The injection of an anodine, or mitigating glister.
1641. French, Distill., iii. (1651), 88. This liquor is a famous Anodynum.
1735. Pope, Moral Ess., II. 111. The daily Anodyne, and nightly draught.
1856. De Quincey, Wks., V. Pref. 9. Amongst the most potent of anodynes, we may rank hemlock, henbane, chloroform, and opium.
2. fig. Anything that soothes wounded or excited feelings, or that lessens the sense of a misfortune.
c. 1550. Coverdale, Christ’s Cross, iv. Wks. II. 245. The wicked … run from God to their anodynes, saints, and unlawful means.
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 66. When multitudes sin, multitudes of mercy are the best Anodines.
c. 1670. Barrow, Serm. (1686), III. xv. 170. An assured Anodynon, and infallible remedy.
1782. T. Chalmers, Estimate (1812), 272. Of public debts … the true anodyne is a sinking-fund.
1831. Brewster, Newton (1855), I. xi. 280. Time … the only anodyne of sorrow.
