ascites

[uh-sahy-teez]

noun

Pathology.

1. accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity; dropsy of the peritoneum.

ascites

/ əˈsɪtɪk, əˈsaɪtiːz /

noun

1. accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity

Other Word Forms

• ascitic adjective
• ascitical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascites¹

1350–1400; Middle English aschites < Medieval Latin < Greek askítēs ( hýdrōps ) abdominal (dropsy), equivalent to ask ( ós ) belly + -itēs -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascites¹

C14: from Latin: a kind of dropsy, from Greek askitēs, from askos wineskin