morphine

mor-phine · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A powerful analgesic drug derived from opium, used medically to relieve severe pain.

Related words

See also: opioid, opium, painkiller
Synonyms: opiate, painkiller

Etymology

From German Morphin, named after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams, because of the drug's sedative effects. Coined in 1817 by German pharmacist Friedrich Sertürner, who first isolated it from opium.