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Where does the word "arthritis" come from? It comes from Greek arthron, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).
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Where does the word "arthritis" come from? It comes from Greek arthron, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).
Arthritis’s story begins in Greek: arthron meant “a joint.” A joint, combined with the suffix -itis (inflammation). It reached English by 1540s as arthritis. Settled as the medical word for joint inflammation. Today, arthritis means inflammation and stiffness of the joints.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient arthron "a joint", a joint, combined with the suffix -itis (inflammation).
- Stage 2 · English · 1540s arthritis "inflammation of the joints", settled as the medical word for joint inflammation.