immunosuppressing
|im-mu-no-sup-press-ing|
🇺🇸
/ɪˌmjuːnoʊsəˈprɛsɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ɪˌmjuːnəʊsəˈprɛsɪŋ/
(immunosuppress)
weakened immune system
Etymology
'immunosuppress' is formed in modern English from the combining form 'immuno-' + the verb 'suppress'. 'immuno-' ultimately derives from Latin 'immunis', meaning 'exempt' or 'free (from)', and the verb 'suppress' comes from Latin 'supprimere' (sub- 'under' + premere 'to press').
'suppress' came into English via Latin 'supprimere' (meaning 'to press down') and related Late Latin/Middle French forms; in modern English it appears as 'suppress'. The medical combining form 'immuno-' was attached in modern scientific English to form 'immunosuppress' and related compounds (e.g., immunosuppression, immunosuppressive).
Individually, the roots referred to 'exemption/protection' (immuno-) and 'pressing down' (suppress). Combined in modern usage the word came to mean 'to reduce or inhibit the immune response', a specialized medical sense.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present-participle form of 'immunosuppress' — performing the action of suppressing the immune system.
The new therapy is immunosuppressing the patient's immune response to prevent rejection.
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Adjective 1
causing, producing, or characterized by suppression of the immune system (used to describe drugs, treatments, or effects).
Immunosuppressing drugs are prescribed after organ transplantation to reduce rejection risk.
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Last updated: 2026/01/01 14:53