noun Pathology. inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially of the respiratory tract, accompanied by excessive secretions.
Origin: 1350–1400; Middle English <
Late Latin catarrhus <
Greek katárrous literally, down-flowing, equivalent to
katarr(
eîn) to flow down (
kata- cata- +
rheîn to flow) +
-ous, variant of
-eos (theme vowel + adj. suffix)
Related formsca·tarrh·al, ca·tarrh·ous, adjective
ca·tarrh·al·ly, adverb
non·ca·tar·rhal, adjective
post·ca·tarrh·al, adjective