The Village Idiom

dormitive virtue

The idiom "dormitive virtue" refers to a substance or action that is believed to induce sleep or have a sleep-inducing quality.

Body, health & looks · Filed under D

In a sentence

  • The professor's lecture had a dormitive virtue, as half the students fell asleep during it.
  • The soothing effects of the lullaby possessed a dormitive virtue, causing the baby to drift peacefully into sleep.
  • Despite its claims, the herbal tea had no dormitive virtue to help with insomnia.

Where it comes from and how it is used

The idiom "dormitive virtue" originates from a satirical play by French playwright Molière. The phrase is derived from the Latin term "virtus dormitiva," which roughly translates to "sleep-inducing power". In Molière's play, a character sarcastically remarks about a medicine that it has a powerful sleep-inducing effect, mocking exaggerated claims made by certain medicines and the gullibility of those who believe in them. The phrase has now come to represent any exaggerated or false claim that purports to have a miraculous effect.

The idiom "dormitive virtue" is not commonly used in modern English and is primarily referenced in literary analysis or historical discussions about Molière's play. It may be used in academic or literary discussions to convey irony or sarcasm when describing something that lacks substantial evidence or credibility but claims to have extraordinary powers. However, it is not widely recognized or used by the general public in everyday conversations.

Know an earlier use or a better origin story?Tell us.