bedsore
UK[ˈbɛdsɔː]US[ˈbɛdsɔːr]
n
a painful, often red or broken area of skin that develops on a person's body from lying in bed for a long time.
Morpheme Breakdown
bed
sore
bed
sore
Etymology
the word "bedsore" is a transparent english compound formed from two native old english elements. "bed" derives from proto-germanic badja-, referring to a sleeping place, while "sore" originates from proto-germanic sairaz, meaning painful. the compound logically and literally describes a specific type of ulceration or skin injury caused by prolonged pressure against a bed during confinement. it is a modern medical term that follows the straightforward pattern of combining two familiar nouns to name a condition defined by its cause and symptom.
Analysis
Structure: bed + sore
bed (old english, meaning a piece of furniture for sleeping on) + sore (old english, meaning a painful or injured area of the body)
Examples
the nurse regularly turned the patient to prevent the development of a bedsore.
patients with limited mobility are at high risk for getting a bedsore.
specialized mattresses can help alleviate pressure and heal a bedsore.