Laudanum
/ˈlɔːdənəm/
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Medicine
Laudanum was commonly used in the past before modern painkillers. 
In the Victorian era, laudanum was often used to treat a variety of ailments.
Pro Tip 2/3Archaic Usage
Today, 'laudanum' is rare and suggests old-fashioned or historical settings. 
Reading 19th-century novels, one frequently encounters references to laudanum.
Pro Tip 3/3Addictive Caution
Laudanum is opium-based and was highly addictive, an important detail in literature and history. 
The character's downfall was partly due to his addiction to laudanum.