Word of the Day - 12/08/25
hypnagogic
/ˌhɪpnəˈɡɑdʒɪk/(adj.): sleep inducing
My cat's purr has a truly hypnagogic quality; I can't stay awake when she's around.
Word Origin
The word 'hypnagogic' originates from Greek. It is formed from 'hypnos' (sleep) and 'agogos' (leading, guiding), which comes from the verb 'agein' (to lead). Thus, 'hypnagogic' refers to the state or phenomena occurring while 'leading to sleep' or 'inducing sleep'.
Words with similar origins include 'hypnosis' and 'hypnotic', both derived from Greek 'hypnos' (sleep). From 'agogos' or 'agein', we have 'pedagogue' (from 'pais', child + 'agogos', leading), 'demagogue' (from 'demos', people + 'agogos', leading), and 'synagogue' (from 'syn', together + 'agein', to lead or bring).