German

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Etymology

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Named 1804 by its discoverer, the German pharmacist F. Sertürner, after the Greek god of dreams Morpheus.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ˈmɔʁfi̯ʊm]
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: Mor‧phi‧um

Noun

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Morphium n (strong, genitive Morphiums, no plural)

  1. morphine
    Synonym: Morphin
    • 1891, H. Otto, “Morphium- und Cocainsucht”, in Die Gartenlaube, page 191:
      Wenige Giftstoffe, wenn man von dem bösen Feinde so vieler Tausende, dem gepriesenen Sorgenbrecher Alkohol, absieht, haben in der Welt soviel Unheil gestiftet wie das Opium und das daraus bereitete Morphium […]
      Few toxicants, if one ignores the evil enemy of so many thousands, the praised breaker of sorrows alcohol, have caused so much harm in the world as opium and morphin, which is made of it

Usage notes

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The original name Morphium was later changed to Morphin, which is the most frequently used term in science and health care today. In normal language, both names are commonly used.

Declension

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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