| a suffix used in pathological terms that denote inflammation of an organ (bronchitis; gastritis; neuritis) and hence, in extended senses, nouns denoting abnormal states or conditions, excesses, tendencies, obsessions, etc. (telephonitis; baseballitis). |

| -itis suff.
[Greek -ītis, from feminine of -ītēs, adj. suff. (originally modifying feminine noun nostos, disease).] |
-itis suff.
Inflammation or disease of: laryngitis.