-itis

1. a suffix used in pathological terms that denote inflammation of an organ ( bronchitis; gastritis; neuritis ) and hence, in extended senses, nouns denoting abnormal states or conditions, excesses, tendencies, obsessions, etc. ( telephonitis; baseballitis ).

-itis

suffix forming nouns

1. indicating inflammation of a specified part

   tonsillitis

2. informal.
   indicating a preoccupation with or imaginary condition of illness caused by

   telephonitis

   computeritis

–itis

1. A suffix meaning “inflammation,” as in bronchitis, inflammation of the bronchial tubes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of -itis¹

< New Latin (or Latin ) -ītis < Greek

Word History and Origins

Origin of -itis¹

New Latin, from Greek, feminine of -itēs belonging to; see -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Then he looked grave and mentioned a string of grievances that the flesh is heir to—mostly ending in "itis."

From Project Gutenberg

Think of the doctors' terminations, so many of them fatal, in itis, which they have invented in the last few years.

From Project Gutenberg

The names are all cognate with the word itis, an ancient term applied to the woman who exercised sacred functions.

From Project Gutenberg

Every other girl one met had an attack of khaki-itis, was spotted as the pard with badges and striped as the zebra.

From Project Gutenberg

It's beginning to look as if we had acquired a pretty bad case of malignant strangle-itis.

From Project Gutenberg