anti-abrin
|an-ti-a-brin|
/ˌæn.tiˈeɪ.brɪn/
against abrin (neutralizing)
Etymology
'anti-abrin' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') and 'abrin' (a modern scientific name derived from the plant genus 'Abrus', the source of the toxin).
'anti-' as a productive English prefix combining with biomedical nouns (e.g., anti-toxin) led to coinages like 'anti-abrin' in modern scientific/medical usage; 'abrin' itself was coined in scientific literature from the genus name 'Abrus' for the rosary pea and adopted into English as the name of the toxin.
The compound has retained a transparent, literal sense: initially and currently it means 'against abrin' or 'neutralizing abrin'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an antibody, serum, or agent that neutralizes or counteracts the toxin abrin (a ribosome-inactivating protein from the rosary pea, Abrus precatorius).
Researchers produced an anti-abrin serum to treat victims exposed to the toxin.
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Adjective 1
acting against or intended to neutralize abrin (used before nouns, e.g., anti-abrin therapy).
The hospital administered an anti-abrin treatment protocol to exposed patients.
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Last updated: 2025/10/14 05:10