anthelmintic

adj, noun — 2 senses

anthelmintic

adj

UK /ænθɛlˈmɪntɪk/

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

1

Medicine, Pharmacology, Sciences Destructive to parasitic worms.

  • Research is progressing well on finding native plants with anthelmintic properties.
  • 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.1911, “Ankylostomiasis”, in Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition:
2 more examples
  • 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.1918, American Society for Microbiology, Society of American Bacteriologists, Abstracts of Bacteriology, volume 2, page 262:
  • 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.1919, Experiment Station Record, volume 39, page 586:
Derived terms
anthelmintically

anthelmintic

noun

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

1

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

  • The bark of the root is likewise valued as an anthelmintic in cases of tape-worm.1911, Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, Pomegranate:
  • Rather than give a long list of the anthelmintics available, I will describe the helminths that cause problems and then suggest methods of control.2010, Graham R. Duncanson, Veterinary Treatment for Working Equines, page 42:
Related terms
praziquantel

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.