Word of the Day Archive
Saturday November 24, 2007
somniferous \som-NIF-uhr-uhs\ , adjective:
Causing or inducing sleep.
He has gone outside the usual channels of stodgy academic journals and somniferous lectures.
-- David Gibson, "Separating Christ from Christianity", The Record (Bergen County, NJ), June 9, 1996
And some cities are eschewing the somniferous art museum to invent newer, hipper institutions that honor our fascination with contemporary culture: technology, space flight, and even rock 'n' roll.
-- Heidi Landecker, "Art Transplant", Architecture, March 1998
Filmed on location in England and using quotes from letters and other documents of Pilgrim leaders, this video is rich in detail and information. Its major drawback--and one that may affect its effectiveness with its intended student audience--is that it's as dull as dillweed, primarily due to a somniferous narration.
-- J. Carlson, "The Mayflower Pilgrims", Video Librarian, November 11, 1996
Somniferous comes from Latin somnifer, "sleep-bringing," from somnus, "sleep" + ferre, "to bring."
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for somniferous
