disease
Meaning
An illness affecting humans, animals, or plants, often caused by infection or health problems.
A particular quality, habit, or phenomenon regarded as adversely affecting a person or group.
Structure
Usage
Heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide.
The spread of the infectious disease was contained by quick public health measures.
He viewed greed as a social disease corrupting the community.
Etymology
The word "disease" originates from the Old French desaise, meaning "lack of ease" or "discomfort." It is a compound of the prefix des- (from Latin dis-, indicating negation or reversal) and aise (meaning "ease" or "comfort"). This literal sense of "being ill at ease" or "in a state of discomfort" was the primary medical term in Middle English for any condition of illness. Over time, the meaning specialized to refer more concretely to a specific pathological condition affecting the body or mind, while still retaining the core concept of a departure from a normal, healthy, and comfortable state.
Analysis
dis: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "apart," "away," or having a negative, reversing force. ease: Old French origin (from Latin adjacens "lying nearby"), meaning "comfort," "freedom from hardship or pain."