Immunises

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Makes a person or animal resistant to a specific infection or toxin by introducing a vaccine or similar preparation
2. Confers protection on an individual by stimulating the immune system to recognize and fight off particular pathogens
3. Induces immunity in an organism so that it can effectively prevent or overcome a targeted illness

Etymology: "Immunises" is the third-person singular present form of "immunise", so it carries the same history as the verb itself. That verb was borrowed from French "immuniser", which is built from "immune" with the suffix "-ise", meaning to make something a certain way. "Immune" itself came into English from Latin "immunis", a word meaning exempt from public duties or obligations, so the original sense was a legal exemption rather than a medical one. Over time, the idea of being exempt from a burden became the idea of being exempt from illness, and "immunise" describes the process of giving that exemption to a body.

Synonyms: vaccinates, inoculates

Antonyms: infects, exposes