-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:
< Neo-Latin (or Latin) -ītis < Greek

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To -itis

Collins

World English Dictionary

-itis

—*suffix forming nouns*
1.	indicating inflammation of a specified part: tonsillitis
2.	informal indicating a preoccupation with or imaginary condition of illness caused by: computeritis; telephonitis

[New Latin, from Greek, feminine of -itēs belonging to; see -ite¹]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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00:10

-itis is always a great word to know.

So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:

a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Etymonline

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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

-itis suff.
Inflammation or disease of: laryngitis.

American Heritage

Science Dictionary

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

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