anthelmintic

English

WOTD – 20 September 2011

Alternative forms

Etymology

From ant- + helminth + -ic; the th in helminth has become t by dissimilation.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ænθɛlˈmɪntɪk/
    • (file)
  • Hyphenation: an‧thel‧min‧tic

Adjective

anthelmintic (comparative more anthelmintic, superlative most anthelmintic)

  1. (pharmacology) Destructive to parasitic worms.
    Research is progressing well on finding native plants with anthelmintic properties.
    • 1911, “Ankylostomiasis”, in Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition:
      The parasites thrive in an environment of dirt, and the main lines of precaution are those dictated by sanitary science. Malefern, santonine, thymol and other anthelmintic remedies are prescribed.
    • 1918, American Society for Microbiology, Society of American Bacteriologists, Abstracts of Bacteriology, volume 2, page 262:
      However, the lighter boiling constituents of tne oil are much less irritating and at the same time they are apparently more anthelmintic than the heavier fraction.
    • 1919, Experiment Station Record, volume 39, page 586:
      Our experiments indicate that this constituent is anthelmintic and also a gastrointestinal irritant, while the lighter portion of the oil is apparently even more anthelmintic and much less irritating.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

anthelmintic (plural anthelmintics)

  1. (medicine) A drug for the treatment of worm infestation, either by killing the worms or by causing them to be expelled from the body.
    • 1911, Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, Pomegranate:
      The bark of the root is likewise valued as an anthelmintic in cases of tape-worm.
    • 2010, Graham R. Duncanson, Veterinary Treatment for Working Equines, page 42:
      Rather than give a long list of the anthelmintics available, I will describe the helminths that cause problems and then suggest methods of control.

Translations

See also

Further reading

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