'lytic-inhibiting' is a compound of 'lytic' and 'inhibiting'. 'lytic' ultimately originates from Greek, specifically the word 'lysis' where 'lysis' meant 'loosening' or 'dissolution', and 'inhibit' originates from Latin 'inhibere', where the prefix 'in-' meant 'in' and the root 'habere' (via forms) meant 'to hold' or 'to keep back'.

'lytic' entered scientific English via New Latin from Greek 'lysis' (λύσις). 'inhibit' comes from Latin 'inhibere' and passed into English (via Medieval/early modern usage). The compound form 'lytic-inhibiting' is a modern scientific/technical formation combining the adjective-forming element from 'lytic' with the present participle 'inhibiting'.

Individually, the parts originally conveyed 'causing dissolution' (lytic) and 'to restrain' (inhibit); combined in modern usage they convey the idea 'restraining or preventing dissolution (lysis)'.