sequela

The word 'sequela' is a direct borrowing from Latin, where it meant "that which follows," derived from the verb sequi (to follow). It entered English in the late 18th century, specifically within medical terminology, to describe a pathological condition that arises as a consequence of a preceding disease. The logic is perfectly literal: the condition (sequela) follows the primary illness. The root sequi is part of a large Proto-Indo-European family (sekw-, to follow) that also gives us English words like sequence, sequel, and pursue, all retaining the core concept of following in order or in time.

Structure: sequ (follow) + ela (noun suffix) - sequ: From Latin sequi (to follow). This root functions as the core semantic element, conveying the idea of following. - ela: A Latin-derived suffix, often found in medical/technical vocabulary, used to form nouns denoting a state, condition, or result.