Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Restorative or stimulating, as a drug or medication.
  • noun A medication used as a central nervous system stimulant.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Restoring; invigorating; giving strength after disease: as, an analeptic medicine.
  • noun In medicine, a remedy which exerts a restorative or invigorating action.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective (Med.) Restorative; giving strength after disease.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective That restores or stimulates health.
  • noun A restorative or stimulative medication, especially one used to overcome depression.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective stimulating the central nervous system
  • noun a medication used as a stimulant to the central nervous system

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Greek analēptikos, from analambanein, to take up : ana-, ana- + lambanein, lēp-, to take.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

ana- + -leptic

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word analeptic.

Examples

  • Together with another, five years older pharmacologist, named Folke Serin, I studied the action of another "analeptic", i.e. nikethamide, and discovered a circadian rhythm in its lethal action.

    Arvid Carlsson - Autobiography 2001

  • Such stimulating properties could be expected for lysergic acid diethylamide, because it shows similarity in chemical structure to the analeptic already known at that time, namely nicotinic acid diethylamide Coramine.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Seeking Examples: 2007

  • I had planned the synthesis of this compound with the intention of obtaining a circulatory and respiratory stimulant an analeptic.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Seeking Examples: 2007

  • Cool and soothing, the analeptic juice quickly took away the stinging.

    Mid Flinx Foster, Alan Dean 1995

  • Cool and soothing, the analeptic juice quickly took away the stinging.

    Mid Flinx Foster, Alan Dean 1995

  • Dr. James's analeptic pills, it is impossible to say; but not doing so, he had occasion to send the coachman one night for an ounce of

    The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 13, No. 365, April 11, 1829 Various

  • If now, it be asked what will best promote the secretion of the seminal fluid, or, in other words, which is the best aphrodisiac, it may be confidently answered, the use of a substantial nourishment, such as medical men designate as an analeptic diet.

    Aphrodisiacs and Anti-aphrodisiacs: Three Essays on the Powers of Reproduction John Davenport 1833

  • All food of easy and quick digestion is an analeptic, whence it follows that the same substance which is an analeptic to one person, may prove indigestible and innutritious for another.

    Aphrodisiacs and Anti-aphrodisiacs: Three Essays on the Powers of Reproduction John Davenport 1833

  • Here at Pinglewood we plan to combat the gloom with music that is warm and analeptic, tinged with melancholy, but ultimately uplifting.

    Pinglewood.com 2009

  • It also acts as an analeptic to the production of glycosaminoglycans needed for the cartilage to bind water (The cartilage is 65\% water).

    Purpleocity.net 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • Glass One of Bottle Two went down in a couple of analeptic swigs. From "The Last Werewolf" by Glen Duncan.

    March 8, 2012

  • Thank god for analeptics....

    February 27, 2013

  • Thank god for atheists...

    February 27, 2013

  • My mother was often aggravated those days. It was something new for her, analeptic doses of righteous aggravation. She was rejuvenated by it.
    Karen Joy Fowler, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons (Penguin Group): 2013), p. 6.

    May 30, 2016