v.
Pronunciation: in- ' hi-b ə t
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin inhibitus, past participle of inhib ē re, from in- 2 in- + hab ē re to have ― more at HABIT
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1 : to prohibit from doing something
2 a : to hold in check : RESTRAIN b : to discourage from free or spontaneous activity especially through the operation of inner psychological or external social constraints
intransitive verb : to cause inhibition
synonyms see FORBID
– in · hib · i · tive \ -b ə -tiv \ adjective
– in · hib · i · to · ry \ -b ə - ˌ to ̇ r- ē \ adjective