antiplague
|an-ti-plague|
/ˌæn.tiˈpleɪɡ/
against plague / prevents plague
Etymology
'antiplague' originates from English, specifically from the combining prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-') meaning 'against' and the noun 'plague' (from Latin 'plaga') meaning 'a strike/blow' and later 'pestilence'.
'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against'; 'plague' comes into English via Old French and Middle English from Latin 'plaga' ('blow, wound'), later used for 'pestilence'. The compound 'antiplague' is a modern formation combining these elements to mean 'against plague'.
Initially, related elements meant 'against a blow/wound' (for 'plaga' as 'blow') and 'against' (for 'anti-'); over time the meaning evolved to the modern sense 'against plague' or 'preventing plague'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance, treatment, or measure designed to prevent or combat plague; something that protects against a plague.
Researchers searched for an effective antiplague to stop the spread.
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Adjective 1
acting against, preventing, or intended to prevent plague or plague-like epidemics.
The team developed antiplague measures to contain the outbreak.
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Last updated: 2025/09/07 05:08