suppressantadj.n.
/səˈprɛs(ə)nt/, U.S. /səˈprɛs(ə)nt/ A. adj.
That suppresses something, esp. a physiological or pathological process. Frequently as the second element of compounds, as appetite-suppressant, disease-suppressant.
ΚΠ
1879 Amer. Homœopath Nov. 297/2 While in some cases cures may result from the use of agents which at once stop the chills, yet I believe such treatment is only suppressant.
1945 Trans. Royal Soc. Trop. Med. & Hygiene 38 349 It is proposed at a future date to investigate the suppressant action of quinine in milder experimentally induced infections.
1967 Canad. Med. Assoc. Jrnl. 21 Oct. 1019/2 An appetite-suppressant drug in long-acting form, diethylpropion hydrochloride 75 mg...was given to two groups of patients for 24 weeks.
2006 Ecologist Feb. 89/1 A brew of vermi-tea..has been found to bring natural fungal disease-suppressant qualities when sprayed onto the leaves of plants.
B. n.
A suppressant agent. Frequently with distinguishing word denoting the process or thing suppressed, as appetite suppressant, cough suppressant, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > [noun] > one who or that which mitigates or moderates
slakea1300
mitigativea1398
allayerc1487
slaker?1518
assuager1547
abater1583
mollifier1583
mitigator1586
moderator1589
softener1599
rebater1601
lightener?1611
allay1614
swager1617
mitigation1622
temperer1630
alleviator1665
alleviative1672
sheather1762
soberera1849
buffer1858
charmer1871
suppressant1884
modifier1890
moderant1897
shock-absorber1924
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > medicines used to affect nutrition > [noun] > appetite suppressants
Preludin1954
phenmetrazine1956
anorectic1957
anorexiant1957
appetite suppressant1958
anoretic1961
phentermine1961
fenfluramine1964
fen-phen1993
phen-fen1994
1884 U.S. Med. Investigator 22 Nov. 349 The course pursued in its [sc. malaria] management was to antidote the suppressant (Quinine) with Arsenicum and Nux.
1929 Jrnl. Infectious Dis. 44 17 The brilliant green in the enrichment medium functions as a suppressant toward the gram-negative organisms other than the paratyphoid intermediates.
1958 Jrnl. Amer. Med. Assoc. 24 May 437/1 We were particularly impressed with the marked reduction in side-effects with the new drug, as compared with our previous experience with other appetite suppressants.
1977 P. Theroux Consul's File 73 Ayer Hitam was malarial, and the tablets we took..were only suppressants.
2007 Independent 4 Dec. 8/3 A dose of buckwheat honey before bedtime outperformed cough suppressants containing the active ingredient dextromethorphan.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1879