I. ˌan-tə-ˈsep-tik adjective
Etymology: anti- + Greek sēptikos putrefying, septic
Date: 1751
1.
a. : opposing sepsis, putrefaction, or decay ; especially : preventing or arresting the growth of microorganisms (as on living tissue)
b. : acting or protecting like an antiseptic
2. : relating to or characterized by the use of antiseptics
3.
a. : scrupulously clean : aseptic
b. : extremely neat or orderly ; especially : neat to the point of being bare or uninteresting
c. : free from what is held to be contaminating
4.
a. : coldly impersonal
an antiseptic greeting
b. : of, relating to, or being warfare conducted with cold precision from a safe distance with few or no casualties on one's side
antiseptic bombings
• an·ti·sep·ti·cal·ly -ti-k(ə-)lē adverb
II. noun
Date: 1751
: a substance that inhibits the growth or action of microorganisms especially in or on living tissue ; also : germicide