ophthalmia
English edit
Etymology edit
Medieval Latin obtalmia and Old French obtalmie, ultimately from Ancient Greek ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós).[1]
Pronunciation edit
- (UK) IPA(key): /ɒfˈθælmiə/, /ɒpˈθælmiə/[2]
- (General American) IPA(key): /ɑpˈθælmiə/
Audio (Southern England) (file)
Noun edit
ophthalmia (countable and uncountable, plural ophthalmias)
- (medicine) Synonym of ophthalmitis (“inflammation of the eye”)
- 1891 July, Fanny D. Bergen, “Animal and Plant Lore”, in Popular Science, page 377:
- Dr. Buck reports that the Swabians also believe in the efficacy of fasting spittle for sore eyes; and our never-failing Pliny records the Roman belief that ophthalmia may be cured by anointing the eyes every morning with fasting spittle.
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
ophthalmitis
References edit
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “ophthalmia”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^ “ophthalmia”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.