prohibit
UK[prəˈhɪbɪt]US[proʊˈhɪbɪt]
v
To officially forbid something by law, rule, or other authority.
v
To make something impossible or prevent it from happening.
Morpheme Breakdown
pro
hibit
pro
forward, forth
hibit
hold, have
Etymology
The word "prohibit" originates from the Latin verb prohibere, meaning "to hold back, restrain, prevent." This Latin term is a compound of the prefix pro- ("forward, forth") and the verb habēre ("to have, hold"). The literal sense is "to hold (something) forth" or "to hold (something) in front," which evolved into the figurative meaning of holding something back or keeping it away. This concept of actively holding something at bay passed through Anglo-Norman and Middle English to arrive at its modern meaning of authoritatively forbidding an action or making it impossible.
Analysis
Structure: pro (forward, forth) + hibit (hold, have)
- 'pro-': A Latin prefix meaning "forward, forth, before, in front of."
- 'hibit': From the Latin root habēre (to have, hold), appearing here in a combining form.
Examples
The law prohibits smoking in all public buildings.
A lack of funding prohibited further research on the project.
The security gate prohibits unauthorized vehicles from entering the compound.