Leukemia
/luːˈkiːmiə/noun
A cancer of the blood-forming tissues, especially the bone marrow, marked by abnormal production of white blood cells.
Did you know?The first element comes from Greek leukos, “white,” the same ancient root that gives us words tied to brightness and light, while the disease name was coined in the 19th century to describe the pale, white-cell-rich blood seen under the microscope.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
leukos
“white, bright, shining”
Ancient Greek
Greek
haima
“blood”
Mid-19th Century
German
Leukämie
“a disease characterized by excess white blood cells”
Mid-19th Century
French
leucémie
“leukemia”
Late 19th Century
English
leukemia
“a disease of the blood marked by abnormal white cells”