sepsis
UK[ˈsepsɪs]US[ˈsepsɪs]
n
a serious medical condition in which the body reacts severely to infection, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
Etymology
the word 'sepsis' entered english directly from modern latin, which borrowed it from ancient greek 'sēpsis', meaning 'putrefaction' or 'decay'. this greek noun derives from the verb 'sēpein', which means 'to make rotten' or 'to putrefy'. the conceptual journey is direct and vivid: from the ancient, literal observation of biological decay to the precise modern medical term for a life-threatening systemic response to infection, where the body's own defenses cause widespread inflammation and tissue damage akin to a self-destructive rotting process.
Analysis
the entire word 'sepsis' is a simplex loanword from greek. it does not contain separable morphemes in modern english spelling that correspond to distinct, meaningful components like 'sep' + 'sis'.
Examples
the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit with severe sepsis.
early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment are crucial for managing sepsis.
a bloodstream infection can rapidly progress to septic shock, the most severe form of sepsis.