-itis

- 5 dictionary results

-itis

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).

Origin:
< NL (or L) -ītis < Gk

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To -itis

-itis
suff.

Inflammation or disease of: laryngitis.
Excessive preoccupation with, indulgence in, reliance on, or possession of the qualities of: televisionitis.

[Greek -ītis, from feminine of -ītēs, adj. suff. (originally modifying feminine noun nostos, disease).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

-itis

noun suffix denoting diseases characterized by inflammation, Mod.L., from Gk. -itis, fem. of adj. suffix -ites "pertaining to." Fem. because it was used with fem. noun nosos "disease," e.g. Gk. arthritis (nosos) "(disease) of the joints."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

-itis suff.
Inflammation or disease of: laryngitis.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary

-itis
A suffix meaning "inflammation," as in bronchitis, inflammation of the bronchial tubes.

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