inhalant
UK[ɪnˈheɪlənt]US[ɪnˈheɪlənt]
n
a medicinal preparation or other substance that is inhaled.
adj
(of a medicinal preparation) used by inhaling.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
hal
ant
in
in
hal
breathe
ant
agent suffix
Etymology
the word 'inhalant' is a modern formation built directly from classical latin components. it combines the prefix 'in-', meaning 'into', with the root 'halare', meaning 'to breathe', and the suffix '-ant', which denotes an agent or something that performs an action. the literal construction 'that which causes one to breathe in' logically evolved to describe any substance, typically a vapor or aerosol, designed to be taken into the lungs. this scientific and medical term reflects a direct application of latin roots to name a specific category of therapeutic or psychoactive agents.
Analysis
Structure: in (in) + hal (breathe) + ant (agent suffix)
in- (latin origin, a prefix meaning 'in, into'); -hal- (from latin halare, meaning 'to breathe'); -ant (latin suffix via french, forming agent nouns or adjectives meaning 'performing a specified action').
Examples
the doctor prescribed a steroid inhalant for her asthma.
nitrous oxide is sometimes used as a recreational inhalant.
the decongestant is available in both pill and inhalant forms.