Inflammation
/ˌɪnfləˈmeɪʃən/noun
A bodily response of tissue to injury or irritation, typically marked by redness, heat, swelling, and pain.
Did you know?The word entered English through Latin and French with the sense of a burning or kindling, and only later became the medical term for tissue that looks and acts as if it’s burning.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰleh₃-
“to shine, flash, burn”
Latin
Latin
flamma
“flame”
Latin
Latin
inflammāre
“to set on fire; kindle”
Old French
Old French
enflamer
“to inflame, kindle”
Middle English
English
inflamacioun
“the act of setting on fire; figuratively, passionate excitement”
Modern English
English
inflammation
“bodily swelling and irritation; also intense emotional or public agitation”
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