Leukopenia
/ˌluːkoʊˈpiːniə/noun
An abnormally low number of white blood cells in the blood.
Did you know?Leukopenia is built from Greek leukos, “white,” and penia, “poverty” or “lack”—a linguistic formula meaning an insufficient supply of white blood cells.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leuk-
“To shine or be light-colored; the ancient root behind the “white” element.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λευκός (leukos)
“White, bright, or shining.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πενία (penia)
“Poverty, lack, or deficiency.”
19th Century
Medical Greek
leuko- + -penia
“A scientific compound meaning a deficiency of white cells or white blood components.”
Modern English
English
leukopenia
“An abnormally low white-blood-cell count.”