1. a medicinal preparation containing opium and other ingredients, formerly used to soothe pain and calm restlessness, especially in infants and children
Usage: archaic; historical; now largely obsolete due to safety concerns

1. soothing or calming in effect; relieving pain or distress
Usage: rare; literary

Examples

• In the 19th century, paregoric was commonly given to teething babies to ease their discomfort.
• The doctor prescribed paregoric to help calm the patient's anxiety.
• Paregoric was once a staple in household medicine cabinets before safer alternatives became available.
• The paregoric effects of the herbal tea helped soothe her nerves.
• Historical records show that paregoric was widely used in folk remedies across America.