antiseptic

Where does the word "antiseptic" come from? It comes from Greek anti septikos, and was adopted directly into English (1750s).

Antiseptic’s story begins in Greek: anti septikos meant “against decay.” Against putrefaction, from sepein (to make rotten). It reached English by 1750s as antiseptic. Settled as the medical word for a substance preventing infection. Today, antiseptic means a substance that prevents infection by killing or inhibiting germs.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient anti septikos "against decay", against putrefaction, from sepein (to make rotten).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1750s antiseptic "a substance that prevents infection by microorganisms", settled as the medical word for a substance preventing infection.