Etymology Map
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Anemia

2 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a shortage of red blood cells

Where does the word "anemia" come from? It comes from Greek anaimia, adopted directly into English (1820s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
anaimia
Greek · ancient
"lack of blood"
Greek, 'an-', without, plus 'haima', blood
2
Stage 2 of 2
anemia
English · 1820s
"lack of blood"
the same Greek root 'haima' (blood) gave English a whole family of blood-disorder terms ending in '-emia', like leukemia and septicemia
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Anemia’s story begins in Greek: anaimia meant “lack of blood.” Greek, 'an-', without, plus 'haima', blood. It reached English by 1820s as anemia. The same Greek root 'haima' (blood) gave English a whole family of blood-disorder terms ending in '-emia', like leukemia and septicemia. Today, anemia means a shortage of red blood cells.