-itis

American  

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 ).

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-itis British  

suffix

1. indicating inflammation of a specified part

   tonsillitis

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

   computeritis

   telephonitis

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–itis Scientific  

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

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Etymology

Origin of -itis

< New Latin (or Latin ) -ītis < Greek