phthisis

American  

[thahy-sis, tahy-] / ˈθaɪ sɪs, ˈtaɪ- /

noun

Pathology.

1. a wasting away.

2. pulmonary tuberculosis; consumption.

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phthisis British  

/ ˈfθaɪ-, ˈtaɪ-, ˈθaɪsɪs /

noun

1. any disease that causes wasting of the body, esp pulmonary tuberculosis

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Etymology

Origin of phthisis

1515–25; < Greek phthísis lung disease, literally, a wasting away, equivalent to phthí ( ein ) to decay + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

I then forwarded the collection to Washington as ordered except one Ogalalla skull of a young squaw that died of phthisis.

From Time

The city is full of phthisis; the insanitary conditions under which the vast majority of the inhabitants live favour its rapid dissemination.

From Project Gutenberg

A toothache produces more violent convulsions of pain than a phthisis or a dropsy.

From Project Gutenberg

We must take the world as we find it, full of men and women predisposed to tubercular phthisis, and with no idea of its contagious nature.

From Project Gutenberg

Phthisis may be developed in consequence of an attack of influenza, and if phthisis be already established it is apt to run a more rapid course.

From Project Gutenberg