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dormitive virtue

A type of tautology in which an item is being explained in terms of the item itself, only put in different (usually more abstract) words.

Etymology:

  • 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".
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Submitted on July 07, 2010

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to dormitive virtue

make a virtue of necessityvirtue is its own rewardby virtue ofin virtue ofmake a virtue of necessityin virtue of whichdormitive principlepatience is a virtuepatience is a virtueVirtue is her own reward

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