antisterility
|an-ti-ste-ril-i-ty|
/ˌæn.ti.stəˈrɪl.ɪ.ti/
preventing sterility
Etymology
'antisterility' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') + 'sterility' (from Latin 'sterilis' meaning 'barren').
'sterilis' in Latin produced Old French and Middle English forms meaning 'barren' and gave modern English 'sterile' and the noun 'sterility'; the modern compound 'antisterility' is a 19th–20th century formation using the prefix 'anti-' added to 'sterility'.
Initially the roots referred to being 'against barrenness' in a literal sense; over time the compound has been used to denote measures or qualities that prevent or counteract sterility, i.e., 'preventing sterility' or 'preserving fertility'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the property or quality of preventing or counteracting sterility; the state or capacity of preserving or promoting fertility.
Researchers studied the antisterility effects of the new hormonal therapy in animal models.
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Noun 2
a treatment, agent, or procedure intended to prevent sterility or restore reproductive capacity.
The clinic offered several antisterility options for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
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Last updated: 2025/09/10 19:56