sedate

Everyday

1. (adjective) Calm, slow and quiet, without excitement. tree →
2. (verb, medicine) To give a person or animal a drug that makes them calm or sleepy, for example before an operation. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, a "sedate pace" is a slow, calm speed. In medicine, vets sedate animals so they can treat them, and doctors may sedate patients. In stories, a sedate character is calm and proper. Phrases: a sedate pace, sedate life, sedated for the operation.

Examples

• We walked at a sedate pace through the park. tree →
• Grandma lives a sedate life in the countryside. tree →
• The vet sedated the dog before cleaning its teeth. tree →
• The zoo keepers sedated the tiger to move it. tree →
• The old horse trotted along at a sedate speed. tree →
• He was sedated during the operation. tree →
• He did not even turn round, for he could not; and yet he was young and freshly cast, but prudent and sedate. tree →

Note

Pronounced "si-DATE". Noun: sedation; a drug that sedates is a sedative. Sedate (calm) is not the same as "sedentary" (sitting a lot).