Meanings
A calque translation of Latin, virtus dormitiva, coined by Molière in The Imaginary Invalid. In the play, he lampoons a group of physicians providing an explanation in macaronic Latin of the sleep-inducing properties of opium as stemming from its "virtus dormitiva".
A type of tautology in which an item is explained in terms of the item itself, only put in different (usually more abstract) words.
Example Sentences
1
The professor's lecture had a dormitive virtue; most of the students fell asleep.
2
The boring book had a dormitive virtue; the reader couldn't stay awake while reading it.
3
The monotonous sound of the rain had a dormitive virtue; it lulled me to sleep.
4
The soothing music had a dormitive virtue; it helped me relax and drift off to sleep.
5
The repetitive nature of the task had a dormitive virtue; it made me feel drowsy.
