Vaccinate

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈvæksɪneɪt/

Definitions

1. To introduce a biological agent is to trigger an immune response in an individual, which involves delivering a specific substance to fortify protection against harmful pathogens
2. To administer a biological substance that stimulates the immune system, thus enhancing protection against infectious diseases and preparing the body to combat specific pathogens
3. To provide an organism with a substance that prompts an immune response, thereby creating resistance to future infections and increasing overall health security

Etymology: Edward Jenner's 1796 experiment with cowpox is the origin of the whole family, and "vaccinate" grew directly out of it. The word "vaccine" came first, drawn from Latin "vaccinus," meaning "of cows," because the cowpox material used to protect against smallpox came from cattle. Once "vaccine" existed as a noun for that protective material, English speakers needed a verb for the act of giving it. That verb was formed by adding the suffix "-ate," a common English verb-forming ending that traces back through Latin "-atus" and "-ātus" to the same Proto-Italic and Proto-Indo-European pattern of participial endings. So "vaccinate" is a plain, transparent formation: a noun turned into a verb by a suffix, meaning "to treat with vaccine."

Synonyms: immunize, inoculate, protect

Antonyms: infect