anthelmintic

Meanings

1. Destructive to parasitic worms.

1. A drug for the treatment of worm infestation, either by killing the worms or by causing them to be expelled from the body.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *h₂éntider. Ancient Greek ᾰ̓ντῐ́ (ăntĭ́) Ancient Greek ἀντι- (anti-)der. English anti- English ant- Ancient Greek ἕλμῐνς (hélmĭns)der. English helminth Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English anthelmintic From ant- + helminth + -ic; the th in helminth has become t by dissimilation.