meningitis
UK: /ˌmɛnɪnˈdʒaɪtɪs/ | US: /ˌmɛnɪnˈdʒaɪtɪs/
n. A serious medical condition involving inflammation of the meninges (the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord), often caused by infection.
The word meningitis combines Greek roots to describe a specific medical condition. Mēninx referred to the protective membranes of the central nervous system, while -itis was historically used in medical terminology to indicate inflammatory diseases. The fusion of these morphemes logically reflects the disease's nature—inflammation of the meninges. This construction follows the classical pattern of medical terminology, where Greek and Latin roots are systematically combined for precision.
The patient was hospitalized with suspected bacterial meningitis.
Early symptoms of meningitis include severe headache and neck stiffness.
Vaccines can prevent certain types of meningitis.
Untreated meningitis may lead to life-threatening complications.
Doctors performed a lumbar puncture to confirm the diagnosis of meningitis.