sedate

[si-deyt]

adjective

1. calm, quiet, or composed; undisturbed by passion or excitement.

   a sedate party;

   a sedate horse.

   Synonyms: unperturbed, unruffled, serene, collected

verb (used with object)

sedated, sedating 

1. to put (a person) under sedation.

sedate

¹

/ sɪˈdeɪt /

adjective

1. habitually calm and composed in manner; serene

2. staid, sober, or decorous

sedate

²

/ sɪˈdeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to administer a sedative to

Other Word Forms

• sedately adverb
• sedateness noun
• unsedate adjective
• unsedately adverb
• unsedateness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sedate¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin sēdātus (past participle of sēdāre “to allay, quieten”); akin to sedēre “to sit”; sit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sedate¹

C17: from Latin sēdāre to soothe; related to sedēre to sit

Origin of sedate²

C20: back formation from _sedative

Synonym Study

See staid.

Example Sentences

The eels are sedated using clove oil so that Dr Evans and his PhD student group can easily measure them.

From BBC

He was sedated and unconscious in hospital for three weeks, and continues to need specialist treatment.

From BBC

Few, if any, players in the global game have the capacity to turn sedate conversations into verbal battles quite like Farrell.

From BBC

Julie from Yorkshire said she would "never come to terms" with the way her mother had passed away - sedated and alone.

From BBC

The sedate scene is worlds away from the pulsating energy of the moment in 2013 when North entered British and Irish Lions folklore.

From BBC

Related Words

• decorous 
• dignified 
• laid-back 
• placid 
• quiet 
• serene 
• sober 
• solemn 
• somber 
• staid 
• tranquil 
• unflappable