Contraindicating

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Showing that a particular medication or procedure should not be used in a given situation because it may cause harm
2. Signaling that a certain drug or therapy is unsafe for a specific patient or condition and should be avoided
3. Warning against the use of a treatment because of known risks, such as a patient's illness or another medication

Etymology: "Contraindicating" is the present participle of "contraindicate", a verb formed in English by joining the prefix "contra-" to "indicate". The prefix comes from Latin "contra", meaning "against" or "opposite", while "indicate" traces back through Latin "indicare" to "index" and the idea of pointing something out. Put together, the verb means to point out that something is against a particular treatment or course of action. The prefix has a surprisingly old pedigree. "Contra" descends from a Proto-Italic form built on "kom", "with" or "together", which also gave rise to the Latin word "contra" with its sense of opposition. That the same root can mean both "together" and "against" is a reminder of how close those ideas sit in many languages.