Anaemia
uh-NEE-mee-uh
Word origin · Greek via New Latin
prefixa-, an-not, withoutGreek a- (before consonants), an- (before vowels) ‘not, without’suffix-aemiacondition of the bloodGreek haîma + -ia ‘blood + noun ending’
an- (without) + -aemia (blood condition). Greek anaimía meant 'bloodlessness'. The modern meaning is a reduced haemoglobin concentration, not an absence of blood.
History: From New Latin, from Greek anaimía, 'bloodlessness, lack of blood'. First recorded in English 1800–10.
Definition
Reduction in haemoglobin concentration below normal range.
Related words
Specialty
🏥 Haematology