sequela
Meaning
A condition which is the consequence of a previous disease or injury.
Structure
Usage
Chronic fatigue is a common sequela of viral infections.
The patient developed neurological sequelae after the severe meningitis.
Scarring is an unfortunate sequela of the surgical procedure.
Etymology
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.
Analysis
- 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.