Word of the Day for Saturday, September 1, 2012

demulcent \dih-MUHL-suhnt\,
adjective:
1. Soothing or mollifying, as a medicinal substance.
noun:
1. A demulcent substance or agent, often mucilaginous, as for soothing or protecting an irritated mucous membrane.

It will do you no harm to keep close, drink nothing but demulcent barley-water and eat gruel, thin gruel—no beef or mutton, no wine or spirits.
-- Patrick O'Brian, "Master and Commander"

She knew where sour grass grew, which you chew for dyspepsy, and mint, excellent for the nau-shy, and the slippery elm, whose fragrant inner bark was the favorite demulcent of a hundred years ago—the thing to use for raw throat and other sore tishas.
-- James Thurber, "Writings and Drawings"

Demulcent comes from the Latin word dēmulcere which meant "to soften."

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