antidepressive
|an-ti-de-pres-sive|
/ˌæn.ti.dɪˈprɛs.ɪv/
acting against depression
Etymology
'antidepressive' originates from Modern English, formed by the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') combined with 'depressive' (from Latin 'deprimere', where 'de-' meant 'down' and 'premere' meant 'to press').
'antidepressive' developed in Modern English by adding the prefix 'anti-' to 'depressive'. 'Depressive' itself comes from Middle English/Old French forms derived from Latin 'deprimere' ('de-' + 'primere/premere'), which evolved into English 'depress' and then 'depressive'.
Originally the Latin root 'deprimere' meant 'to press down' (a literal sense). Over time 'depress' acquired the figurative sense 'to lower spirits', and 'antidepressive' came to mean 'counteracting depression' and specifically 'a substance or treatment that relieves depressive symptoms'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a drug or agent used to treat clinical depression (i.e., an antidepressant).
She was prescribed an antidepressive to help manage her symptoms.
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Adjective 1
acting against or countering depression; intended to reduce or prevent depressive symptoms.
The clinician recommended antidepressive therapy alongside counselling.
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Last updated: 2025/08/30 16:54