phthisis

2 definitions found

phthisis - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  phthisis \phthi"sis\ (th[imac]"s[i^]s; 277), n. [L., fr. Gr.
     fqi`sis, fr. fqi`ein to pass or waste away: cf. F. phthisie.]
     (Med.)
     A wasting or consumption of the tissues. The term is now
     obsolete; it was once applied to many wasting diseases, but
     in the early 1900's became restricted to tuberculosis of the
     lungs (pulmonary phthisis, or consumption). See
     Consumption. [Obs.]
     [1913 Webster + PJC]
  
     Fibroid phthisis. See under Fibroid.
        [1913 Webster]

phthisis - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  phthisis
      n 1: involving the lungs with progressive wasting of the body
           [syn: pulmonary tuberculosis, consumption, phthisis,
           wasting disease, white plague]