aneurysm

or an·eu·rism

[an-yuh-riz-uh m]

noun Pathology.

a permanent cardiac or arterial dilatation usually caused by weakening of the vessel wall.

Origin of aneurysm

1650–60; < Greek aneúrysma dilation, equivalent to aneurys- (variant stem of aneurýnein to dilate; see an-³, eury-) + -ma noun suffix

Related formsan·eu·rys·mal, an·eu·ris·mal, adjectivean·eu·rys·mal·ly, an·eu·ris·mal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for aneurism

Historical Examples of aneurism

But apoplexy may kill one in two hours, and aneurism only takes two minutes.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
But she is evidently in bad health, and dies the same night of aneurism.
A History of the French Novel, Vol. 2
George Saintsbury
Physicians had been sent for, who had attributed his death to an aneurism.
The Son of Monte Christo
Jules Lermina
The aneurism continued to contract, and the patient was sent home.
Surgical Experiences in South Africa, 1899-1900
George Henry Makins
He also had an operation, like that of Antyllus, for the cure of aneurism.
Outlines of Greek and Roman Medicine
James Sands Elliott

British Dictionary definitions for aneurism

aneurysm

aneurism

noun

a sac formed by abnormal dilation of the weakened wall of a blood vessel

Derived Formsaneurysmal, aneurismal, aneurysmatic or aneurismatic, adjectiveaneurysmally, aneurismally, aneurysmatically or aneurismatically, adverb

Word Origin for aneurysm

C15: from Greek aneurusma, from aneurunein to dilate, from eurunein to widen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for aneurism

the less correct, but more popular, spelling of aneurysm (q.v.), by influence of words in -ism. The -y- is etymologically correct; the spelling with -i- suggests a meaning "nervelessness."

aneurysm

early 15c., from Medieval Latin aneurisma, from Greek aneurysmos "dilation," from aneurynein "to dilate," from ana- "up" (see ana-) + eurynein "widen," from eurys "broad, wide," from PIE root *were- "wide, broad" (cf. Sanskrit uruh "broad, wide").

aneurism in Medicine

aneurysm

n.

A localized, blood-filled dilation of a blood vessel caused by disease or weakening of the vessel wall.

Related formsan′eu•rys′mal (-məl) null adj.

aneurism in Science

aneurysm

[ăn′yə-rĭz′əm]

A localized, blood-filled dilation of a blood vessel or cardiac chamber caused by disease, such as arteriosclerosis, or weakening of the vessel or chamber wall. A ruptured aneurysm results in hemorrhage and is often fatal.