favism

[fah-viz-uhm]

noun

Pathology.

1. acute hemolytic anemia caused by ingestion or inhalation of fava bean pollen.

Word History and Origins

Origin of favism¹

1900–05; < Italian favismo, equivalent to fav ( a ) bean + -ismo -ism

Example Sentences

While many Romans celebrate the fleeting May fava season and the coming of spring with fava-heavy picnics outside the city walls, sufferers of favism live in fear.

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As with the genes that cause thalassaemia and favism, inheriting even a single copy of the malformed version of this gene is enough to cause disease.

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Reviewing the prevalence of favism in the region during his life, Simoons has disputed claims that Pythagoras himself suffered from favism.

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One common inherited disease in Iran was favism, leading Bowman to several discoveries about enzyme deficiencies.

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A warning: Fava beans are toxic to individuals with favism, a genetic disorder.

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