leukaemia
Meaning
a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow, characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells.
Structure
Usage
the patient was diagnosed with acute leukaemia.
research into new treatments for leukaemia is ongoing.
a bone marrow transplant can sometimes cure certain types of leukaemia.
Etymology
the term 'leukaemia' is a modern medical compound formed directly from ancient greek roots. it combines 'leukos', meaning 'white', with 'haima', meaning 'blood'. this name was coined in the 19th century by physicians to describe the disease's most visually distinctive feature observed under a microscope: a pale, whitish layer of abnormal cells in the blood, contrasting with the red layer of healthy blood cells. thus, the word's literal meaning, 'white blood', logically evolved into its modern abstract medical definition as a malignancy of the blood-forming tissues.
Analysis
- leuk: from greek 'leukos', meaning 'white, bright, clear'. functions as a combining form denoting whiteness. - aemia: from greek 'haima', meaning 'blood'. functions as a combining form denoting a condition of the blood.