Arhythmia
/ˌeɪ.rɪðˈmiː.ə/noun
A condition in which the heart beats with an abnormal rhythm.
Did you know?The prefix a-/an- in Greek is a negating force, so arrhythmia is literally a state of “no rhythm,” a stark example of how ancient language still names modern medical disorder.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
arrhythmos
“without rhythm or measure”
Late Latin
Latin
arrhythmia
“irregularity of rhythm”
19th Century
English
arrhythmia
“medical term for irregular heartbeat”
Modern English
English
arrhythmia
“abnormal heart rhythm”