Se*date" (?), a. [L. sedatus, p. p. of sedare, sedatum, to allay, calm, causative of sedere to sit. See Sit.]
Undisturbed by passion or caprice; calm; tranquil; serene; not passionate or giddy; composed; staid; as, a sedate soul, mind, or temper.
Disputation carries away the mind from that calm and sedate temper which is so necessary to contemplate truth.
I. Watts.
Whatsoever we feel and know
Too sedate for outward show.
Wordsworth.
Syn. -- Settled; composed; calm; quiet; tranquil; still; serene; unruffled; undisturbed; contemplative; sober; serious.
-- Se*date"ly, adv. -- Se*date"ness, n.
© Webster 1913.
[Editor's note, 1/19/2003: Corrected scanning error ("conteplative")]