virus-inhibiting
|vi-rus-in-hib-i-ting|
/ˈvaɪrəs-ɪnˈhɪbɪtɪŋ/
prevent virus action
Etymology
'virus-inhibiting' originates from Latin and English elements: 'virus' (Latin 'virus' meaning 'poison, venom, or slimy liquid') and 'inhibit' from Latin 'inhibēre' meaning 'to hold back or restrain'.
'virus' entered scientific English from Late Latin 'virus' (originally 'poison') in modern scientific usage; 'inhibit' comes from Latin 'inhibēre' via Medieval/Neo-Latin into English, and the compound form 'virus-inhibiting' developed in modern scientific and medical contexts.
Initially, 'virus' meant 'poison' in Latin but over time evolved to mean 'a microscopic infectious agent'; 'inhibit' originally meant 'to hold back' and broadened to mean 'to restrain or slow an action', so 'virus-inhibiting' now means 'preventing or reducing viral activity'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
preventing, slowing, or reducing the replication or activity of viruses; having antiviral effects.
Researchers developed a virus-inhibiting compound that reduced replication in laboratory tests.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/27 20:45