n. 1. Reduction of anxiety, stress, irritability, or excitement by administration of a sedative agent or drug. 2. The state or condition induced by a sedative. [Middle English sedacioun, from Old French sedation, from Latin sēdātiō, sēdātiōn-, from sēdātus, past participle of sēdāre, to calm; see SEDATE1.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.