Anthelmintic

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ænθɛlˈmɪntɪk/

Origin

From - + helminth + -ic. The second th has become t by dissimilation.

Alternative forms

• antihelminthic

Full definition of anthelmintic

Adjective

1. (medicine) Destructive to parasitic intestinal worms.Research is progressing well on finding native plants with anthelmintic properties.
• 1911, , article in Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition,The parasites thrive in an environment of dirt, and the main lines of precaution are those dictated by sanitary science. Malefern, santonine, thymol and other anthelmintic remedies are prescribed.
• 1918, American Society for Microbiology, , Abstracts of Bacteriology, Volume 2, page 262,However, the lighter boiling constituents of tne oil are much less irritating and at the same time they are apparently more anthelmintic than the heavier fraction.
• 1919, Experiment Station Record, Volume 39, page 586,Our experiments indicate that this constituent is anthelmintic and also a gastrointestinal irritant, while the lighter portion of the oil is apparently even more anthelmintic and much less irritating.

Noun

1. (medicine) A drug for the treatment of intestinal worm infestation, either by killing the worms or by causing them to be expelled from the body.
• 1911, , article in Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition:The bark of the root is likewise valued as an anthelmintic in cases of tape-worm.
• 2010, Graham R. Duncanson, Veterinary Treatment for Working Equines, page 42:Rather than give a long list of the anthelmintics available, I will describe the helminths that cause problems and then suggest methods of control.