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   inhibit

   /ɪnˈhɪbɪt/

   verb

   • 1. hinder, restrain, or prevent (an action or process): "cold inhibits plant growth" Similar impedehinderhamperhold backdiscourageinterfere withobstructput a brake onslowslow downretardcurbchecksuppressrepressrestrictrestrainconstrainbridlerein inshacklefettercrampbalkfrustratearreststiflesmotherpreventblockthwartfoilquashstophaltput an end/stop tonip in the budOpposite assistencourageallow
   • ▪ prevent or prohibit (someone) from doing something: "the earnings rule inhibited some retired people from working"
   • ▪ (of a substance) slow down or prevent (a process, reaction, or function) or reduce the activity of (an enzyme or other agent).
   • 2. make (someone) self-conscious and unable to act in a relaxed and natural way: "they felt inhibited by the presence of healthcare professionals"
   • 3. (in ecclesiastical law) forbid (a member of the clergy) to exercise clerical functions.

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘forbid (a person) to do something’): from Latin inhibere ‘hinder’, from in- ‘in’ + habere ‘hold’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. inhibitive adjective

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

   • H

     4

   • I

     1

   • B

     3

   • I

     1

   • T

     1

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