Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “inhibition” come from?

Inhibition derives from Old French inibicion, from Latin inhibitio, meaning a restraining or checking.

inhibition (English): The act of inhibiting; A personal feeling of fear...

Definitions

  1. The act of inhibiting; A personal feeling of fear...

Ancestry of “inhibition”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchinibicion—
2Latininhibitiorestraint; inhibition
3Latin-tiō—
4Latindissertātiō—
5Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
6Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “inhibition”

  • disinhibition
  • photoinhibition
  • autoinhibition
  • sympathoinhibition
  • immunoinhibition
  • uninhibition
  • retroinhibition
  • hyperinhibition
  • cyberdisinhibition
  • noninhibition
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →