antihistamine
|an-ti-his-ta-mine|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈhɪs.tə.mɪn/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tiˈhɪs.tə.miːn/
against histamine
Etymology
'antihistamine' originates from the combining form 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against') and the noun 'histamine' (coined from 'hist-' from Greek 'histos', meaning 'tissue', plus '-amine').
'histamine' was coined in the early 20th century from elements meaning 'tissue' + 'amine'; 'antihistamine' was formed in medical English by prefixing 'anti-' to 'histamine' to denote substances that act against histamine.
Initially and historically it meant 'a substance that blocks or counteracts histamine', and this core meaning has been retained in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a drug or substance that counteracts the effects of histamine, commonly used to treat allergic reactions, hay fever, and similar conditions.
She took an antihistamine for her hay fever.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
having the property of counteracting histamine or used to describe something that reduces histamine effects (often used attributively).
Antihistamine treatment reduced her symptoms.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/02 06:13