antienzyme
|an-ti-en-zyme|
/ˌæn.tiˈɛn.zaɪm/
against an enzyme
Etymology
'antienzyme' is formed in Modern English from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') combined with 'enzyme' (from New Latin/Modern Greek 'enzymon').
'enzyme' derives from Greek 'enzymon' (literally 'in leaven'), passed into New Latin and then into English as 'enzyme'; the element 'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against', and the compound 'antienzyme' is a modern English formation combining these elements.
Literally it means 'against an enzyme'; in modern usage it refers specifically to either an antibody against an enzyme or a substance that inhibits enzyme activity.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an antibody directed against an enzyme (i.e., an immune protein that binds to a specific enzyme).
The lab reported the presence of antienzymes in the patient's serum.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/31 15:13
