hypertrophy
Meaning
the enlargement of an organ or tissue from the increase in size of its cells.
excessive growth or development of something.
Structure
Usage
weight training leads to hypertrophy of the muscle fibers.
the hypertrophy of the heart's left ventricle is a common condition in some athletes.
critics warned of a hypertrophy of bureaucracy within the expanding organization.
Etymology
the word 'hypertrophy' is a modern scientific term formed directly from greek components. the prefix 'hyper-' is a common borrowing meaning 'over' or 'excessive', while the root '-trophy' derives from the greek 'trophē', which signifies nourishment and, by extension, growth. the literal greek sense of 'over-nourishment' or 'excessive growth' maps directly onto the modern medical and general meanings, which describe the abnormal enlargement of tissue due to cell growth, not multiplication. this precise, descriptive construction from classical elements is typical of the specialized vocabulary developed in the life sciences from the 19th century onward.
Analysis
hyper: from greek, meaning 'over, beyond, excessive'. trophy: from greek 'trophē', meaning 'nourishment, food, growth'.