Toxemia
/tɑkˈsiːmiə/noun
A condition in which toxic substances are present in the blood.
Did you know?The first element comes from Greek toxikon, originally referring to poison used on arrows, so the word’s ancestry is tied to weaponized poison, not just illness.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
toxikon
“poison for arrows; arrow poison”
Late Latin
Latin
toxicum
“poison”
19th Century
English
toxæmia
“presence of toxins in the blood”
Modern English
English
toxemia
“a toxic condition of the blood”
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