pathology
UK: pəˈθɒlədʒi | US: pəˈθɑːlədʒi
n. the scientific study of diseases, their causes, and effects
n. abnormal or undesirable conditions or behaviors (figurative use)
pathology = patho<suffering/disease> + logy<study of>
- patho: From Greek pathos (πάθος), meaning "suffering" or "disease." Retained in modern medical terminology to denote disease-related concepts.
- logy: From Greek -logia (λογία), meaning "study of" or "science." A common suffix in academic disciplines (e.g., biology, geology).
Etymology Origin:
The word pathology emerged in the early 17th century, combining Greek pathos (suffering) and -logia (study). It originally referred to the study of bodily diseases but later expanded metaphorically to describe systematic analysis of any abnormal condition (e.g., "social pathology"). The morphemes reflect a direct transfer from Greek to scholarly Latin and later English, preserving their original meanings.
The pathology report confirmed the presence of cancerous cells.
She specialized in forensic pathology to investigate causes of death.
Urban decay is often studied as a form of social pathology.
The doctor ordered further tests to understand the pathology of the patient’s symptoms.
His research focuses on the pathology of autoimmune disorders.