bromide

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun any of the salts of hydrobromic acid; formerly used as a sedative but now generally replaced by safer drugs
  2. noun a trite or obvious remark

Etymology

From brom- + -ide. First used in the sense “dull person” by American artist, art critic, poet, author and humorist Gelett Burgess. Figurative sense ("platitude") by extending the medicating sense through the metaphor of pacifying or placating.

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