immune
UK[ɪˈmjuːn]US[ɪˈmjun]
adj
Protected against a particular disease by inoculation or as a result of natural processes.
adj
Not affected or influenced by something, especially something undesirable.
Morpheme Breakdown
im
mune
im
not
mune
service, duty
Etymology
The word 'immune' originates from the Latin 'immunis', meaning 'exempt from public service or charge'. This term was formed by combining the negative prefix 'in-' (meaning 'not') with 'munis', which referred to a service, duty, or function, particularly of a public nature. The literal sense of being "free from a burden" was first applied in a medical context in English during the late 14th century to describe someone exempt from a plague epidemic. Over time, this concept of exemption evolved into the modern biological and metaphorical meanings, signifying protection from disease or being unaffected by external influences.
Analysis
Structure: im (not) + mune (service, duty)
im- (Latin prefix meaning 'not', a variant of 'in-' before 'm'), mune (from Latin 'munis', meaning 'service', 'duty', or 'function').
Examples
After receiving the vaccine, she was immune to the virus.
His privileged upbringing left him immune to the financial worries of most people.
The diplomat claimed legal immunity from prosecution.