1. Plural of laudanum; preparations of opium dissolved in alcohol or other solvents, historically used as a painkiller and sedative.
Usage: archaic; historical; now primarily encountered in historical or literary contexts

Examples

• In the 19th century, laudanums were commonly prescribed for pain relief and insomnia.
• Victorian physicians often recommended laudanums to their patients suffering from chronic ailments.
• The novel depicts a character struggling with addiction to laudanums.
• Laudanums were widely available without prescription during the 1800s.
• Historical medical records show that laudanums were among the most frequently dispensed medicines of the era.