Definition of anodyne

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< anodize

anoint >

an·o·dyne    (n-dn) KEY 

ADJECTIVE:

1. Capable of soothing or eliminating pain.
2. Relaxing: anodyne novels about country life.

NOUN:

1. A medicine, such as aspirin, that relieves pain.
2. A source of soothing comfort.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Latin andynus, from Greek andunos, free from pain : an-, without ; see a-¹ + odun, pain; see ed- in Indo-European roots