nerve-protecting
|nerve-pro-tect-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈnɝv.prəˌtɛk.tɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈnɜːv.prəˌtɛk.tɪŋ/
protecting nerves
Etymology
'nerve-protecting' originates from Modern English, specifically the compound of the words 'nerve' and 'protecting', where 'nerve' referred to the anatomical 'nerve' and 'protecting' derived from 'protect' meaning 'to guard or defend'.
'nerve' traces back through Old French 'nerf' to Latin 'nervus', while 'protect' comes from Latin 'protegere' (to cover/defend) which passed into Old French as 'proteger' and Middle English as 'protecten'; these elements were combined in Modern English to form the compound 'nerve-protecting'.
Initially, the component words meant the anatomical 'nerve' and 'to guard/defend'; over time their compound has been used to denote something that provides protection specifically for nerves or, figuratively, something that preserves one's composure.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
designed or intended to protect nerves or nervous tissue (medical/biological sense).
The surgeon applied a nerve-protecting gel around the exposed tissue.
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Adjective 2
figurative: helping to reduce stress or emotional strain; calming in a way that preserves one's composure or 'nerves'.
Her steady voice had a nerve-protecting effect on the anxious team.
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Last updated: 2026/01/07 23:16