: a state of stupor, unconsciousness, or arrested activity produced by the influence of narcotics or other chemical or physical agents compare nitrogen narcosis

Examples of narcosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The carbon dioxide was poisoning him, causing narcosis marked by vivid hallucinations. Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 30 June 2024 After many more tests, the duo’s conclusion was the same as Behnke’s: Yes, the narcosis was real. Rachel Lance, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin narcōsis, borrowed from Greek nárkōsis "benumbing," from narkō-, variant stem of narkoûn "to benumb, deaden" (verbal derivative of nárkē "numbness, lack of sensation," of uncertain origin) + -sis -sis

Note: Greek nárkē has been compared with Old High German in-snerahan "to tie up (to), link (to)," hypothetically reflecting an Indo-European verbal base *snerk- "draw together, loop around" (thus Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben, 2. Auflage, Wiesbaden, 2001; see snare entry 1), but the semantic connection is far from apparent. (The Lexikon inaccurately translates nárkē as "Krampf, Lähmung" = "cramp, paralysis.") R. Beekes (Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2009) regards the word as most likely of pre-Greek substratal origin.

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of narcosis was in 1671

Dictionary Entries Near narcosis

Cite this Entry

“Narcosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narcosis. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

narcosis

noun
: a dazed, unconscious, or inactive condition produced by chemicals (as narcotics)

Medical Definition

narcosis

noun
: a state of stupor, unconsciousness, or arrested activity produced by the influence of narcotics or other chemicals or physical agents see nitrogen narcosis

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