mononucleosis
UK[ˌmɒnəʊˌnjuːkliˈəʊsɪs]US[ˌmɑːnoʊˌnuːkliˈoʊsɪs]
n
An infectious disease, often caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, characterized by fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and an increase of mononuclear white blood cells.
Morpheme Breakdown
mono
nucle
osis
mono
one, single
nucle
nucleus, kernel
osis
condition, disease
Etymology
The term "mononucleosis" is a modern medical compound built directly from classical roots to describe a specific pathological state. The first element, "mono-," draws from the Greek concept of singularity. The core component, "nucle-," originates from the Latin for a small nut or kernel, metaphorically applied to the cell's nucleus. The suffix "-osis," of Greek origin, systematically indicates a diseased or abnormal condition. Thus, the word's literal construction—"a condition of single nuclei"—precisely reflects the key diagnostic feature of the disease: a proliferation of mononuclear (single-nucleus) leukocytes in the blood.
Analysis
Structure: mono (one, single) + nucle (nucleus, kernel) + osis (condition, disease)
mono: From Greek monos, meaning "alone, single, sole." It functions as a combining form indicating singularity.
nucle: From Latin nucleus, meaning "kernel, core," itself a diminutive of nux (nut). It refers to the central, core part of a cell.
osis: From Greek -ōsis, a suffix forming nouns that denote a state, condition, or process, especially a disease or abnormal condition.
Examples
The teenager was diagnosed with mononucleosis and advised to get plenty of rest.
Common symptoms of mononucleosis include extreme fatigue and a severe sore throat.
Because mononucleosis is often called the "kissing disease," it is associated with close contact and saliva exchange.