rhinosinusitis
ˌraɪnoʊˌsaɪnəˈsaɪtɪs
noun
Origin
Greek/Latin
rhinos + sinus + -itis — inflammation of nose and sinus
Overview
Meaning Now
- Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and the paranasal sinuses.
Literal older meaning
inflammation (-itis) of the nose (rhino-) and sinuses (sinus-)
Language path
Greek → Latin → English
Earliest form
rhinosinusitis
Earliest period
20th century
Journey
The term reflects the modern medical shift towards recognizing that nasal and sinus inflammation typically occur concurrently, replacing the older, more localized term 'sinusitis' in clinical settings.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
rhis
“nose”
- Classical Latin
sinus
“curve, fold, or cavity”
Used in anatomy for bodily cavities
- Late Latin/Greek
-itis
“suffix denoting inflammation”
From Greek -itis
- Modern English
rhinosinusitis
“combined inflammation”
Medical terminology construction
Connections
Word parts
rhino-
prefix
relating to the nose
sinus
root
paranasal cavity
-itis
suffix
inflammation
Related across languages
French
rhinosinusite
rhinosinusitis
German
rhinosinusitis
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.