TRANQUILLISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tranquillise mean? 

• TRANQUILLISE (verb)
  The verb TRANQUILLISE has 2 senses:

1. make calm or still

2. cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to

  Familiarity information: TRANQUILLISE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TRANQUILLISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they tranquillise    ... he / she / it tranquillises   
Past simple: tranquillised   
Past participle: tranquillised   
-ing form: tranquillising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make calm or still

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

calm; calm down; lull; quiet; quieten; still; tranquilize; tranquillise; tranquillize

Context example:

quiet the dragons of worry and fear

Hypernyms (to "tranquillise" is one way to...):

comfort; console; solace; soothe (give moral or emotional strength to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tranquillise"):

lull (calm by deception)

compose (calm (someone, especially oneself); make quiet)

appease; assuage; conciliate; gentle; gruntle; lenify; mollify; pacify; placate (cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of)

assure; reassure (cause to feel sure; give reassurance to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

calm; sedate; tranquilize; tranquillise; tranquillize

Context example:

The patient must be sedated before the operation

Hypernyms (to "tranquillise" is one way to...):

affect (act physically on; have an effect upon)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tranquillise"):

hypnotise; hypnotize; mesmerise; mesmerize (induce hypnosis in)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

tranquilliser (a drug used to reduce stress or tension without reducing mental clarity)

 Context examples 

For the present you have only to tranquillise yourself.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

"Tell me where I can get you a glass of water," said St. John; "you must really make an effort to tranquillise your feelings."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

They elevated me from all littleness of feeling, and although they did not remove my grief, they subdued and tranquillised it.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

As long as Mr. Knightley remained with them, Emma's fever continued; but when he was gone, she began to be a little tranquillised and subdued—and in the course of the sleepless night, which was the tax for such an evening, she found one or two such very serious points to consider, as made her feel, that even her happiness must have some alloy.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Here's what may tranquillise every care, and lift the heart to rapture!

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

These reflections have dispelled the agitation with which I began my letter, and I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven, for nothing contributes so much to tranquillise the mind as a steady purpose—a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Emma, who was not really at all frightened herself, tranquillised this excess of apprehension by assurances of Mrs. Goddard's experience and care; but as there must still remain a degree of uneasiness which she could not wish to reason away, which she would rather feed and assist than not, she added soon afterwards—as if quite another subject, (...)

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Very soon you seemed to get used to me: I believe you felt the existence of sympathy between you and your grim and cross master, Jane; for it was astonishing to see how quickly a certain pleasant ease tranquillised your manner: snarl as I would, you showed no surprise, fear, annoyance, or displeasure at my moroseness; you watched me, and now and then smiled at me with a simple yet sagacious grace I cannot describe.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He was gone as he spoke; and Fanny remained to tranquillise herself as she could.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Her feelings for one and the other were soon a little tranquillised by seeing the party in the meadow disperse, and Miss Crawford still on horseback, but attended by Edmund on foot, pass through a gate into the lane, and so into the park, and make towards the spot where she stood.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)