Fibromyalgia
/ˌfaɪbroʊmaɪˈældʒə/noun
A chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and heightened sensitivity to pressure.
Did you know?Its ending, “-algia,” comes from Ancient Greek álgos, meaning pain, the same root found in words such as nostalgia and neuralgia.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mūs
“Mouse; a small animal associated with muscle-like movement and form”
Classical Latin
Latin
fibra
“A fiber, filament, or sinew”
Ancient Greek
Greek
mŷs, μυ̂ς
“Muscle; literally also mouse”
Ancient Greek
Greek
álgos, ἄλγος
“Pain or distress”
19th Century
Medical English
-algia
“A medical combining form meaning pain, borrowed from Greek álgos”
1970s
Medical English
fibromyalgia
“A modern medical term combining Latin fibra with Greek myo- and -algia for widespread muscle-related pain”