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anabolic steroid

Any of a group of synthetic steroid hormones that promote the storage of protein and the growth of tissue, sometimes used by athletes to increase muscle size and strength. Nonprescription sale of anabolic steroids was declared illegal in the United States in 1990.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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