suppressants
|sup-press-ant|
🇺🇸
/səˈprɛsənt/
🇬🇧
/səˈprɛs(ə)nt/
(suppressant)
to suppress
Etymology
'suppressant' originates from French, specifically the word 'supressant', where the element 'sup-' (ultimately from Latin 'sub-') meant 'under' and 'press-' (from Latin 'premere') meant 'to press'.
'suppressant' changed from the French word 'supressant' (derived from Latin 'suppressus', past participle of 'supprimere') and was borrowed into English as 'suppressant' to denote an agent that suppresses.
Initially it related to the idea 'to press down' or 'hold down', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'an agent that reduces or inhibits a function, symptom, or process'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance or agent that suppresses or reduces a physiological function, symptom, reaction, or process (e.g., cough suppressants, immune suppressants).
The doctor recommended several suppressants to manage his severe allergies.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/21 10:42