pathologically
Meaning
In a way that relates to or is caused by a physical or mental disease.
In an extreme, unreasonable, or compulsive way that is beyond normal control.
Structure
Usage
The tissue was pathologically examined for signs of infection.
He is pathologically afraid of germs and washes his hands dozens of times a day.
She has a pathologically optimistic outlook, refusing to acknowledge any potential problems.
Etymology
The word's journey begins with the Greek pathos, a term for suffering, experience, or emotion, which passed into scientific Latin. Combined with -logia (the study of), it formed pathologia, the study of diseases and their causes. The English adjective "pathological" emerged, meaning pertaining to the study of disease, and later, characteristic of or caused by disease. The adverbial suffix -ly, of Germanic origin, was then appended. The modern abstract sense—describing an extreme, irrational, or compulsive behavior—arises from the conceptual metaphor that such behaviors are akin to a "disease" of the mind or character, operating outside rational control.
Analysis
- patho: From Greek pathos, meaning "suffering, disease, feeling." It functions as a combining form denoting disease. - log: From Greek -logia, from logos meaning "word, reason, study." It functions as a combining form denoting a branch of study or science. - ical: A compound English suffix from -ic + -al, forming adjectives meaning "of or pertaining to." - ly: An Old English suffix forming adverbs from adjectives, meaning "in a manner of."