endemic
Meaning
(of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.
(of a plant or animal) native and restricted to a certain place.
Structure
Usage
malaria is endemic in many tropical regions.
the giant tortoise is endemic to the galápagos islands.
the corruption was described as endemic to the political system.
Etymology
the word endemic entered english in the mid-17th century via french endémique and modern latin endemicus, from greek endēmos. this greek adjective is a compound of en-, meaning 'in, within', and dēmos, meaning 'people' or 'district'. originally, it described something that is native to or confined within a particular people or region. this literal sense of being 'among the people' evolved from a geographical concept to its primary modern usage in epidemiology and biology, where it denotes a disease, species, or phenomenon that is constantly present or native to a specific population or area.
Analysis
en- (prefix of greek origin meaning 'in, within'); -dem- (root of greek origin meaning 'people'); -ic (suffix of greek/latin origin forming adjectives meaning 'of, pertaining to').