hormone-depleting
|hor-mone-de-ple-ting|
🇺🇸
/ˈhɔrmoʊn dɪˈpliːtɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈhɔːməʊn dɪˈpliːtɪŋ/
(deplete)
reduction
Etymology
'hormone-depleting' is formed from the noun 'hormone' and the present participle of the verb 'deplete'. 'hormone' originates from Greek 'hormōn' (root referring to setting in motion) via modern scientific coinage, and 'deplete' originates from Latin 'deplēre,' where 'de-' meant 'down' or 'away' and 'plēre' meant 'to fill'.
'hormone' was coined in modern scientific English in the early 20th century (coined by Bayliss and Starling) from Greek elements and entered general usage; 'deplēre' in Latin gave rise to Middle English forms related to 'deplete,' which developed into the modern English verb 'deplete' through Late Latin and Old French influence.
Initially, the Latin root meant 'to empty or remove filling'; over time 'deplete' came to mean 'to reduce the quantity of' more generally. 'Hormone' originally meant 'that which sets in motion' and has specialized to mean 'chemical messenger in physiology.' Combined, 'hormone-depleting' now specifically denotes causing a reduction in hormone levels.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a reduction in the amount or activity of hormones (expressed here as the noun phrase 'hormone depletion').
Prolonged hormone depletion can lead to metabolic and reproductive issues.
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Adjective 1
causing or resulting in a reduction of hormone levels in the body or in a tissue (used of treatments, substances, or conditions).
The research examined the long-term effects of a hormone-depleting therapy on bone density.
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Last updated: 2026/01/17 11:09