Nervine

Nervine
A nerve tonic, a medicine that acts therapeutically upon the nerves, particularly in the sense of a sedative that serves to calm ruffled nerves. The word nervine comes from the Latin nervinus, belonging to a sinew. Nervine travelled across the Channel from France to 17th-century England. There it was first applied to the sinews. That is not illogical because the Latin nervinus derives from nervus meaning "a sinew, tendon, thong, string (as a bowstring), or wire." In ancient anatomy the Romans (and Greeks) did not distinguish between and tendons and nerves. The name "nervus" referred to any white cordlike structure, whether it be a band of connective tissue or a fiber in the nervous system. (I must admit I did not know the word "nervine" myself. I came upon it in a diabolically difficult Saturday New York Times crossword — they get progressively harder fro Monday to Saturday. The clue was "Soothing medicine." There were 7 spaces to be filled. The answer proved to be NERVINE. I found it was not in most standard desktop dictionaries nor in many medical dictionaries. — Editor)
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Acting therapeutically, especially as a sedative, upon the nervous system.

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ner·vine 'nər-.vēn adj tending to soothe nervous excitement <a \nervine tonic>
nervine n a tonic that soothes nervous excitement

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • nervine — erv ine (n[ e]rv [i^]n; 277) a. [L. nervinus made of sinews: cf.F. nervin. See {Nerve}.] (Med.) Having the quality of acting upon or affecting the nerves; quieting nervous excitement. n. A nervine agent. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nervinė — statusas T sritis gyvūnų raida, augimas, ontogenezė, embriologija atitikmenys: lot. neuralis ryšiai: platesnis terminas – raidos sutrikimas …   Veterinarinės anatomijos, histologijos ir embriologijos terminai

  • nervinė — statusas T sritis embriologija pavyzdys( iai) amauròzinė silpnaprotỹstė atitikmenys: lot. neuralis ryšiai: platesnis terminas – raidos sutrikimas …   Medicininės histologijos ir embriologijos vardynas

  • nervinė — nèrvinis, nèrvinė bdv. Nèrvinė skáidula …   Bendrinės lietuvių kalbos žodyno antraštynas

  • nervine — /nerr veen, vuyn/, adj. 1. of or pertaining to the nerves. 2. acting on or relieving disorders of the nerves; soothing the nerves. n. 3. a nervine medicine. [1655 65; < NL nervinus, equiv. to L nerv(us) NERVE + inus INE1] * * * …   Universalium

  • nervine — [ nə:vʌɪn, i:n] adjective (of a medicine) used to calm the nerves. noun a nervine medicine. Origin C17: from med. L. nervinus of the nerves or sinews , or suggested by Fr. nervin …   English new terms dictionary

  • nervine — /ˈnɜvin/ (say nerveen), / vaɪn/ (say vuyn) adjective 1. of or relating to the nerves. 2. acting on, or relieving disorders of the nerves; soothing the nerves. –noun 3. a nervine medicine. {New Latin nervīnus relating to the sinews or nerves} …  

  • nervine — adj. & n. adj. relieving nerve disorders. n. a nervine drug. Etymology: F nervin (as NERVE) …   Useful english dictionary

  • nervinė ląstelė — statusas T sritis histologija, ląstelių chemija, histologinė chemija, audinių kultūra atitikmenys: lot. Neurocytus; Neuronum ryšiai: platesnis terminas – nervinis audinys siauresnis terminas – aksonas siauresnis terminas – daugiapolė nervinė… …   Veterinarinės anatomijos, histologijos ir embriologijos terminai

  • nervinė skaidula — statusas T sritis histologija, ląstelių chemija, histologinė chemija, audinių kultūra atitikmenys: lot. Neurofibra ryšiai: platesnis terminas – nervas siauresnis terminas – ateinančioji nervinė skaidula siauresnis terminas – autonominė nervinė… …   Veterinarinės anatomijos, histologijos ir embriologijos terminai

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