Meaning

adjective (chemistry) not participating in a chemical reaction; chemically inert

adjective (pathology) not progressing or increasing; or progressing slowly

adjective (military) not involved in military operations

originEtymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in- Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus ▲ Ancient Greek ἐνεργητῐκός (energētĭkós)sl. Latin āctīvus Latin ināctīvuslbor. French inactifder. English inactive From French…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0