Hibit

Hibit is not a standalone English word; in linguistic and etymological discussions it is used to refer to the bound morpheme -hibit- that appears in several Latin-derived English words. The sequence is common enough to be noted when analyzing how related terms are formed, but it does not function as an independent entry in standard dictionaries.

Etymology and meaning: The form -hibit- comes from Latin hibere, which is associated with holding or having. In English, the exact nuance of -hibit- is shaped by the prefix attached to it. For example, ex- in exhibit conveys the sense of bringing forth or presenting; in- in inhibit conveys the sense of holding back or restraining; pro- in prohibit carries the idea of forbidding or preventing.

Usage: As a bound morpheme, -hibit- cannot stand alone in modern English. It appears in words such as exhibit, inhibit, and prohibit, where prefixes modify the core idea expressed by the root. Related derivatives include exhibition (the act of displaying) and inhibition or prohibition (the states or acts of restraining or forbidding).

See also: exhibit, inhibit, prohibit, exhibition, inhibition, prohibition.

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