Definition: Hypnotic refers to an agent or substance that induces sleep or a trance-like state of deep relaxation. In medicine, hypnotic drugs are used to induce sleep, especially in the treatment of insomnia or during surgery. The term can also describe something mesmerizing or sleep-inducing in a more general sense, such as music or visual effects.
Etymology and Origin: The word ‘hypnotic’ comes from the Greek ‘hypnos’, meaning ‘sleep’. The concept of hypnosis, named after the Greek god of sleep, was developed in the late 18th century, although practices resembling hypnosis can be traced back to ancient times. The term was initially used in the context of mesmerism and later to describe a state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility resembling sleep.
