diathesis

[dahy-ath-uh-sis]

noun

plural

diatheses 

1. Pathology.,  a constitutional predisposition or tendency, as to a particular disease or other abnormal state of the body or mind.

diathesis

/ ˌdaɪəˈθɛtɪk, daɪˈæθɪsɪs /

noun

1. a hereditary or acquired susceptibility of the body to one or more diseases

Other Word Forms

• diathetic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diathesis¹

1645–55; < New Latin < Greek diáthesis arrangement, disposition. See dia-, thesis

Word History and Origins

Origin of diathesis¹

C17: New Latin, from Greek: propensity, from diatithenai to dispose, from _dia- + tithenai to place

Example Sentences

In this model, diathesis represents an individual's genetic predilections; which are mightily affected by other factors, often stress-inducing, in the individual's environment.

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GT resulted in partial or complete resolution of immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, and bleeding diathesis.

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The term insanity is merely a loose descriptive one, and we shall gain little definite knowledge about the inheritance of such maladies until we study each separate insane diathesis specifically.

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Of or pertaining to an aneurism; as, an aneurismal tumor; aneurismal diathesis.

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Bleeding is seldom of much avail, but produces, occasionally, considerable loss of vital power, and augments the putrid diathesis.

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