a. [f. L. somnifer (f. somni- SOMNI- + -ferre to bring) + -OUS. Cf. F. somnifère, Sp. and Pg. somnifero, It. sonnifero.]
1. Inducing sleep; soporific.
1602. Dekker, Satiro-mastix, L j b. Twas I that ministred to her chaste bloud, A true somniferous potion, which did steale Her thoughts to sleepe.
1633. Brome, Antipodes, II. iv. You slept most part o’ th’ journey hitherward, The aire was so somniferous.
1663. Boyle, Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos., II. App. 345. A safe and moderately somniferous medicine in feavers.
1754. Dodsley, Agric., III. 215. The scarlet poppy … Bows his somniferous head, inviting soon To peaceful slumber the disorder’d mind.
1799. Underwood, Dis. Childr. (ed. 4), I. 360. If it follow any somniferous disease.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., ii. The wine had exerted its somniferous influence.
1876. Harley, Royle’s Mat. Med., 764. The effects … of the other somniferous constituents of opium.
2. Somnolent, sleepy.
1798. in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1799), II. 400. A most somniferous Earl gave violent symptoms of animation.
1809. W. Irving, Knickerb. (1861), 153. Those fat, somniferous, respectable burghers.
Hence Somniferously adv.
1836. New Monthly Mag., XLVI. 13. His translations … were somniferously dull.
a. 1852. Moore, Corn & Catholics, ix. Poet. Wks. (1872), 392. A row Of Poppies … Stand forth, somniferously flaming!
1865. Ellen C. Clayton, Cruel Fortune, II. 110. By degrees the heat, and the silence,… operated somniferously on Val.
