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Where does the word "inhibit" come from? It comes from Latin inhibere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
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Where does the word "inhibit" come from? It comes from Latin inhibere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
Inhibit’s story begins in Latin: inhibere meant “to hold back.” 'in-' plus 'habere', to hold. It reached English by 1400s as inhibit. Psychological 'inhibitions' date from the 1800s. Today, inhibit means to hinder or restrain.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient inhibere "to hold back", 'in-' plus 'habere', to hold.
- Stage 2 · English · 1400s inhibit "to forbid", psychological 'inhibitions' date from the 1800s.