prohibitively
|pro/hib/i/tive/ly|
C1
/prəˈhɪbɪtɪvli/
(prohibitive)
excessively costly
Etymology
Etymology Information
'prohibitively' originates from the Latin word 'prohibitivus', where 'pro-' meant 'before' and 'habere' meant 'to hold'.
Historical Evolution
'prohibitivus' transformed into the French word 'prohibitif', and eventually became the modern English word 'prohibitive' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to hold back or prevent', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'excessively high or costly'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a way that is excessively high or costly, making something difficult or impossible to achieve.
The cost of the new car was prohibitively expensive for most buyers.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41