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encephalitis

[ en-sef-uh-lahy-tis ]
/ ɛnˌsɛf əˈlaɪ tɪs /
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See synonyms for encephalitis on Thesaurus.com
noun Pathology.
inflammation of the substance of the brain.
Also called encephali·tis le·thar·gi·ca [li-thahr-ji-kuh]. /lɪˈθɑr dʒɪ kə/. a form of this condition, caused by a filterable virus and characterized by apathy and abnormal sleepiness; sleeping sickness.
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Origin of encephalitis

First recorded in 1835–45; encephal- + -itis

OTHER WORDS FROM encephalitis

en·ceph·a·lit·ic [en-sef-uh-lit-ik], /ɛnˌsɛf əˈlɪt ɪk/, adjectivepost·en·ceph·a·lit·ic, adjectivepseu·do·en·ceph·a·lit·ic, adjective

Words nearby encephalitis

encephal-, encephalalgia, encephalasthenia, encephalic, encephalin, encephalitis, encephalitis lethargica, encephalo-, encephalogram, encephalograph, encephalography
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to encephalitis

catalepsy, encephalitis lethargica, narcolepsy, trypanosomiasis

How to use encephalitis in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for encephalitis

encephalitis
/ (ˌɛnsɛfəˈlaɪtɪs, ˌɛnkɛf-) /
noun
inflammation of the brain

Derived forms of encephalitis

encephalitic (ˌɛnsɛfəˈlɪtɪk), adjective
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

Scientific definitions for encephalitis

encephalitis
[ ĕn-sĕf′ə-lī′tĭs ]
Inflammation of the brain, usually caused by infection with a virus.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for encephalitis

encephalitis
[ (en-sef-uh-leye-tis) ]

An inflammation of the brain. Encephalitis may be caused by a virus or lead poisoning, or it may be a complication of another disease, such as influenza or measles. Encephalitis can cause permanent brain damage or death. It is also possible, however, to recover from it completely.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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