inhibitor
UK[ɪnˈhɪbɪtə(r)]US[ɪnˈhɪbɪtər]
n
a substance that slows down or prevents a particular chemical reaction or process.
n
a person or thing that makes someone feel less confident or prevents them from doing something.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
hibit
or
in
in, on
hibit
hold, have
or
agent suffix
Etymology
the word "inhibitor" has a clear lineage from latin, built upon the verb inhibēre, meaning "to hold in, restrain, or check." this verb itself is a compound of the prefix in- (in, on) and habēre (to have, hold). the core concept is one of holding something back from action. in scientific and medical english, it was adopted to specifically denote a substance that restrains or slows a chemical or biological process. the suffix -or follows the standard latin pattern for forming agent nouns, thus an "inhibitor" is literally "that which holds in or restrains."
Analysis
Structure: in (in, on) + hibit (hold, have) + or (agent suffix)
in: a latin prefix meaning "in, on, into, against." in this context, it conveys a sense of inward action or restraint.
hibit: from the latin verb habēre, meaning "to have, hold." the form hibit- is its participial stem, as seen in inhibēre (to hold in, restrain).
or: a latin-derived agent noun suffix indicating "a person or thing that performs an action."
Examples
this drug acts as an ace inhibitor, helping to relax blood vessels.
shyness can be a major inhibitor of social interaction.
the enzyme inhibitor effectively blocked the metabolic pathway.