ANTISEPTIC

I. adjective Etymology: anti- + Greek sēptikos putrefying, septic Date: 1751 1. opposing sepsis, putrefaction, or decay, acting or protecting like an ~, relating to or characterized by the use of ~s, 3. scrupulously clean ; aseptic , extremely neat or orderly, free from what is held to be contaminating, 4. coldly impersonal , of, relating to, or being warfare conducted with cold precision from a safe distance with few or no casualties on one's side , ~ally adverb II. noun Date: 1751 a substance that inhibits the growth or action of microorganisms especially in or on living tissue