Tinnitus
/tɪˈnɪtəs/noun
A ringing, buzzing, or other perceived noise in the ears without an external source.
Did you know?Tinnitus comes from Latin *tinnitus*, meaning “a ringing” or “jingling,” from *tinnire* (“to ring, jingle”), the same sound-root behind words for bright, metallic ringing.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ten-
“to resound, ring”
Latin
Latin
tinnire
“to ring, jingle, tinkle”
Latin
Latin
tinnitus
“a ringing or jingling sound”
Late Middle English
English
tinnitus
“a ringing in the ears or a tinkling sound”
Modern English
English
tinnitus
“a persistent ringing or other sound perceived in the ears without an external source”
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