a. and sb. ? Obs. Also 7 stupi-. [a. F. stupéfactif, -ive adj. (16th c.), ad. med.L. stupefactīv-us, f. L. stupefact-, ppl. stem of stupefacĕre: see STUPEFY v. and -IVE.]
A. adj. 1. Med. Having the property of producing stupor or insensibility.
1527. Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, c j b. The water of Nenufara floure … is half poyson or venym thrughe his great coldenes or stupefactyfe.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., Interpret. Words, Stupefactiue: That, that hathe strength to astoynie, and take awaye felynge.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 98. Opium hath a Stupefactiue Part, and a Heating Part.
1649. E. Reynolds, Hosea, iii. 14. Some affections and motions of the heart … are of a cold stupefactive, and constringent nature.
1669. Flavel, Husb. Spiritual., I. vi. 57. Opium and such-like stupifactive ingredients.
1789. W. Buchan, Dom. Med., xlvi. (1790), 473. Those [sc. poisons] of the vegetable kind are generally of a narcotic or stupefactive quality.
1797. London Compl. Art Cookery, Brewing, 219. Cocculus Indicus … is poisonous, stupefactive, and unlawful.
2. gen. Stupefying, astounding. rare.
1689. T. Plunket, Char. Gd. Commander, 45. What dire Catastrophe’s impending are? What stupefactive things we daily hear?
B. sb. A stupefactive medicine.
1562. Bulleyn, Dial. Sorenes & Chir., 33 b. Stuperfactiues or dedde things, as Opium.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 74. This we see in the Operation of Opium, and Stupefactiues, vpon the Spirits of liuing Creatures.
1668. E. Reynolds, Serm., 24. Thereby teaching us … to refuse any Anodynes or Stupefactives which might take away the sense of sinne from us.
Hence Stupefactiveness. rare–0.
1727. Bailey, vol. II.
