Sarcoma
/sɑːrˈkoʊ.mə/noun
A malignant tumor arising from connective tissue such as bone, muscle, or fat.
Did you know?Sarcoma comes from Greek σάρξ (sarx, “flesh”), and the suffix -oma, “mass/tumor,” so the word is built from a brutally direct ancient medical image rather than a mystical one.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
σάρκωμα (sárkōma)
“a fleshy excrescence or tumor”
Late Latin
Latin
sarcoma
“a fleshy tumor”
16th Century
English
sarcoma
“a fleshy growth or tumor”
Modern English
English
sarcoma
“a malignant tumor of connective tissue”
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