abscess
UK[ˈæbsɪs]US[ˈæbsɛs]
n
A swollen area within the body, containing an accumulation of pus.
Morpheme Breakdown
abs
cess
abs
away, off
cess
to go, to yield
Etymology
The word abscess has a literal medical logic rooted in Latin. It derives from the past participle 'abscessus' of the verb 'abscedere', which means 'to go away' or 'to withdraw'. In ancient medical theory, it was believed that harmful humors or diseased matter would separate or 'go away' from healthy tissue, localizing into a swollen mass. This concept of separation and departure evolved into the modern, specific term for a localized collection of pus.
Analysis
Structure: abs + cess
- abs (Latin origin, a variant of 'ab-', meaning 'away, off')
- cess (Latin origin, from 'cedere', meaning 'to go, to yield')
Examples
The doctor lanced the painful abscess to drain the infection.
An untreated dental abscess can lead to serious complications.
The abscess formed at the site of the injection.