Immunostimulating

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Pertaining to a substance or activity that prompts the immune system to respond more vigorously against infections and other diseases
2. Relating to the ability of a compound to boost immune system activity, enhancing the body's defenses against pathogens
3. Describes something that activates or enhances the function of the immune system to better fight illnesses

Etymology: Immunostimulating is built from two parts: "immuno-", a combining form from "immunity", and "stimulating", from the verb "stimulate". The first part comes from the Latin "immunis", meaning "exempt" or "free from a service or obligation", a sense that later narrowed to freedom from disease. The second part traces back to the Latin "stimulus", a goad used to prod an animal, which gave English a verb meaning to spur someone or something into activity. Put together, the word describes something that spurs the body's defenses into greater activity. It is a plain technical compound: "immuno-" attaches to a word about immunity, and "-stimulating" describes an action that prompts a response. Its meaning follows directly from those parts, with no surprising shift along the way.