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lysis

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ly⋅sis

[lahy-sis]
–noun, plural ‑ses [‑seez] .
1. Immunology, Biochemistry. the dissolution or destruction of cells by lysins.
2. Medicine/Medical. the gradual recession of a disease. Compare crisis (def. 4).

Origin:
1815–25; < NL < Gk lýsis a loosening, releasing, equiv. to ly-, var. s. of lȳ́(ein) to loosen, release + -sis -sis

-lysis

a combining form with the meaning “breaking down, loosening, decomposition,” used in the formation of compound words: analysis; electrolysis; paralysis.

Origin:
< Gk; see lysis
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ly·sis   (lī'sĭs)   
n.   pl. ly·ses (-sēz)
  1. Biochemistry The dissolution or destruction of cells, such as blood cells or bacteria, as by the action of a specific lysin that disrupts the cell membrane.

  2. Medicine The gradual subsiding of the symptoms of an acute disease.


[New Latin, from Latin, a loosening, from Greek lusis, from lūein, to loosen; see leu- in Indo-European roots.]
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

-lysis 
scientific/medical suffix meaning "loosening, dissolving, dissolution," from Gk. lysis "a loosening, setting free, releasing, dissolution," from lyein "to unfasten, loose, loosen, untie" (see lose). A Fr. back-formation gave Eng. -lyze for forming verbs from nouns in -lysis.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ly·sis
Pronunciation: 'lI-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural ly·ses /-"sEz/
1 : the gradual decline of a disease process (as fever) —compare CRISIS 1
2 : a process of disintegrationor dissolution (as of cells)
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

lysis ly·sis (lī'sĭs)
n. pl. ly·ses (-sēz)

  1. The gradual subsiding of the symptoms of an acute disease; a form of the recovery process.

  2. The dissolution or destruction of cells, such as blood cells or bacteria, as by the action of a specific lysin.

-lysis suff.
Decomposition; dissolving; disintegration: hydrolysis.

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