Back to all words

Antibiotic

2 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a medicine that destroys or inhibits the growth of bacteria
1
Stage 1 of 2
anti bios
Greek · ancient
"against life"
against life, describing a substance that destroys harmful microorganisms
2
Stage 2 of 2
antibiotic
English · 1940s
"a drug that destroys or inhibits bacteria"
coined once penicillin and similar drugs made the concept medically real
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom