The Adjective is Immune

The Adjective is Immune The Adjective is â€Å"Immune† The Adjective is â€Å"Immune† By Maeve Maddox I recently saw the word â€Å"immuned† used as an adjective in place of immune. A web search shows that this nonstandard use is proliferating. Am I Immuned to Herpes Muslims immuned from swine flu symptoms Breast cancer awareness month 2009: Men are not immuned How can I be immuned to getting strep? My husband is in the hospital, he does drugs, lowered immuned system,? Merriam-Webster provides an entry for â€Å"immuned† as an adjective, with the notation â€Å"used chiefly of domestic animals† It does not, however, have an entry for a verb that might have produced the form â€Å"immuned.† So far the unfortunate coinage has not found its way into the pages of the OED. The adjective immune is a back formation of the noun immunity. immunity (late 14th century): a legal term meaning â€Å"exempt from service or obligation† immune (mid-15th century): a legal term meaning â€Å"free; exempt.† The verb to immunize and the noun immunization came into the language along with the improved medical technique in the 19th century. immunize:   To make (an organism) immune to a pathogen, disease, or antigen; esp. to administer a vaccine, antiserum, antigen, etc. immunization:   Med. (and Biol.). The production of immunity in an organism; esp. inoculation or vaccination against a disease. Also: the administration of a vaccine, antiserum, antigen, etc When immune is used in the sense of â€Å"exempt,† the particle from follows it: Health-Care Shocker† Shows Nobody is Immune from Insurance Company Abuses Security Contractors Immune from Torture Charges, Judges Rule When the sense is â€Å"not receptive to,† the particle is to: Old People May Be Immune to Swine Flu Strange Creature Immune to Pain Macs no longer immune to viruses, experts say Bottom line: if your goal is to speak or write a standard form of English, you must abjure the use of â€Å"immuned.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Comparative Forms of Adjectives36 Poetry TermsWhat’s the Best Way to Refer to a Romantic Partner?