sedate
Sedate 这个词源于拉丁语的 sedare,意思是“使安定,使平静”,是 sedere “坐”的引申词。Sedate 的意思有两个:
作为形容词,指“安静的,沉着的,镇定的”,通常用来形容人或性格。例如:
He was a sedate and serious student. (他是一个沉稳而认真的学生。)
She spoke in a sedate and polite manner. (她以一种安静而礼貌的方式说话。)
作为动词,指“给(某人或某物)服用镇静剂,使镇静或昏迷”。例如:
The doctor sedated the patient before the surgery. (医生在手术前给病人服用了镇静剂。)
They had to sedate the wild animal before transporting it. (他们不得不在运输野生动物之前让它服用镇静剂。)
Sedate 的近义词有 calm, tranquil, composed, serene 等,它们都可以表示“安静的,平静的”的意思,但有一些细微的区别:
Calm 是最常用的词,指“没有激动、紧张、恐惧或愤怒的情绪,或者没有风浪、骚乱或冲突的情况”。例如:
He tried to calm down after the argument. (他试图在争吵后平静下来。)
The sea was calm and clear. (海面平静而清澈。)
Tranquil 指“没有噪音、干扰或烦恼的状态,或者给人一种宁静和舒适的感觉”。例如:
She enjoyed the tranquil beauty of the countryside. (她享受着乡村的宁静美景。)
He lived a tranquil life in the mountains. (他在山里过着平静的生活。)
Composed 指“控制住自己的情绪,表现出冷静和自信”。例如:
She remained composed despite the pressure. (她尽管面临压力,仍然保持镇定。)
He gave a composed speech to the audience. (他向观众发表了一篇冷静而自信的演讲。)
Serene 指“没有忧虑或烦恼,或者给人一种平和和愉悦的感觉”。例如:
She had a serene smile on her face. (她脸上露出了一丝安详的微笑。)
The sky was serene and blue. (天空晴朗而湛蓝。)