Also 4–6 sompnolence. [a. OF. sompnolence (mod.F. somnolence, = Sp. somnolencia, Pg. so(m)nolencia, It. sonnolenza), or ad. L. somnolentia (med.L. sompnolencia), f. somnolentus: see SOMNOLENT a.] Inclination to sleep; sleepiness, drowsiness.

1

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 705. Than comth Sompnolence, þat is sluggy slombryng.

2

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 94. That I no Sompnolence have used.

3

c. 1425.  Orolog. Sapient., iii. in Anglia, X. 349/32. Wolte þou be ourlayde with sompnolence and ydelnesse.

4

c. 1475.  Partenay, 4616. Ho-so do slepe … in sompnolence there, Alway perpetuall there abide shall he.

5

1543.  Boorde, Dyetary, xix. (1870), 279. Onyons doth prouoke a man … to sompnolence.

6

1721.  in Bailey.

7

1841.  W. C. Dendy, Philos. Mystery, 367. Somnolence.—Trance.—Catalepsy.

8

1862.  Merivale, Rom. Emp., lxvi. (1865), VIII. 237. The dignified somnolence of an old-fashioned city like Athens.

9

1866.  G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., ii. The people had dined and the usual somnolence had followed.

10

  personif.  1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 92. Ther is yit on of compaignie, And he is cleped Sompnolence.

11