antisensitizing
|an-ti-sen-si-tiz-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.sɛn.sɪˈtaɪ.zɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.ti.sen.sɪˈtaɪ.zɪŋ/
(antisensitize)
preventing sensitivity
Etymology
'antisensitizing' originates from the Greek prefix 'anti-' (meaning 'against') combined with the English verb 'sensitize' (from Latin 'sensus', meaning 'feeling'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'sensus' meant 'feeling'.
'antisensitizing' developed by combining 'anti-' + 'sensitize' (the latter formed from Latin 'sensus' via Old French/modern English 'sense' and the verb-forming suffix '-ize'); this combination produced the modern English participial/adjectival form 'antisensitizing'.
Initially it would have meant literally 'against making sensitive'; over time its usage has come to mean 'preventing or reducing sensitization' or 'producing a desensitizing effect'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process or act of antisensitizing; the state resulting from reducing sensitivity.
Antisensitizing of the cells was observed after the treatment.
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Verb 1
present participle or gerund form of 'antisensitize': performing the action of making less sensitive or preventing sensitization.
Researchers are antisensitizing subjects with controlled exposures.
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Adjective 1
acting to prevent or reduce sensitization; causing a reduction in responsiveness or sensitivity (often used in medical or immunological contexts).
The antisensitizing treatment reduced patients' allergic responses.
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Last updated: 2025/09/09 18:30