disinfectingly
|dis-in-fect-ing-ly|
/ˌdɪsɪnˈfɛkt/
(disinfect)
remove infection
Etymology
'disinfect' originates from Neo-Latin, specifically the word 'disinfectare,' where 'dis-' meant 'away' and the element related to Latin 'inficere' (from which 'infect') meant 'to taint or stain'.
'disinfect' changed from the Neo-Latin verb 'disinfectare' and entered English use as 'disinfect' (via modern scientific/medical usage), later giving rise to derived forms such as 'disinfection' and 'disinfectingly'.
Initially it meant 'to remove infection or taint,' and over time it has come to mean more specifically 'to clean or treat (an object or surface) to destroy germs/pathogens.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a manner that disinfects; so as to remove or kill germs, bacteria, or other pathogens.
She wiped the counter disinfectingly before preparing food.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/21 22:18