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hypnagogic

adjective
hyp·​na·​go·​gic | \ ˌhip-nə-ˈgä-jik How to pronounce hypnagogic (audio) , -ˈgō-\
variants: or less commonly hypnogogic

Definition of hypnagogic

: of, relating to, or occurring in the period of drowsiness immediately preceding sleep hypnagogic hallucinations
Other Words from hypnagogic Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about hypnagogic

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Did You Know?

The hypnagogic state is that heady lull between wakefulness and sleep when thoughts and images flutter, melt, and transform into wild things, wrote Boston Globe correspondent Cate McQuaid (October 1, 1998). Some scientists have attributed alien-abduction stories to this state, but for most people these "half-dreams" are entirely innocuous. Perhaps the most famous hypnagogic dream is that of the German chemist Friedrich August Kekule von Stradonitz, who was inspired with the concept of the benzene ring by a vision of a snake biting its own tail. You're not dreaming if the Greek root hypn-, meaning "sleep," seems familiar - you've seen it in "hypnotize." The root "-agogic" is from the Greek -agōgos, meaning "inducing," from agein meaning "to lead." We borrowed "hypnagogic" (also spelled "hypnogogic") from French hypnagogique in the late 19th century.

Examples of hypnagogic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 What remains the same is his signature hypnagogic melodies and cassette-like lo-fi aura. — Efrain Dorado, RedEye Chicago, "5 must-see concerts in Chicago this week: Arcade Fire, Ariel Pink, Hamilton Leithauser," 24 Oct. 2017 What remains the same is his signature hypnagogic melodies and cassette-like lo-fi aura. — Efrain Dorado, RedEye Chicago, "5 must-see concerts in Chicago this week: Arcade Fire, Ariel Pink, Hamilton Leithauser," 24 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hypnagogic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of hypnagogic

1886, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for hypnagogic

French hypnagogique, from Greek hypn- + -agōgos leading, inducing, from agein to lead — more at agent

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More Definitions for hypnagogic

hypnagogic

adjective
hyp·​na·​go·​gic
variants: also hypnogogic \ ˌhip-​nə-​ˈgäj-​ik How to pronounce hypnogogic (audio) , -​ˈgō-​jik How to pronounce hypnogogic (audio) \

Medical Definition of hypnagogic

: of, relating to, or occurring in the period of drowsiness immediately preceding sleep hypnagogic hallucinations — compare hypnopompic

Other Words from hypnagogic

hypnagogically \ -​ji-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce hypnagogically (audio) \ adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on hypnagogic

Nglish: Translation of hypnagogic for Spanish Speakers

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