Arthritis
/ɑːrˈθraɪtɪs/noun
Inflammation of one or more joints.
Did you know?The root arthr- comes from Greek arthron, and it still lives in scientific words like arthropod, literally “joint-footed,” because ancient language loved naming things by their moving parts.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
árthron
“joint, limb, or articulated part”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-îtis
“a suffix used in medical terms to indicate inflammation”
Late Latin
Latin
arthritis
“joint disease or inflammation of the joints”
Middle English
English
arthritis
“a disease affecting the joints”
Modern English
English
arthritis
“inflammation of the joints”
Explore more surprising origins