Dyslexia
/dɪsˈlɛk.si.ə/noun
A learning disorder that affects accurate and fluent reading and spelling.
Did you know?The first element, dys-, is the same ancient prefix behind words like disaster and dysfunction, carrying the idea of something gone wrong or out of alignment.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
dyslexía
“difficulty with words or reading”
Late Greek
Greek
dyslektos
“hard to speak, difficult to express”
19th Century
German/Medical Latin
dyslexie
“term used in medical and scholarly discussion for reading impairment”
Late 19th Century
English
dyslexia
“a condition involving marked difficulty in reading”