tonsillectomy
Meaning
a medical operation to remove the tonsils
Structure
Usage
the child recovered quickly after her tonsillectomy.
recurrent throat infections are a common reason for recommending a tonsillectomy.
the procedure, once very common, is now performed less frequently than in the past.
Etymology
the word is a modern medical compound, directly constructed from classical elements to describe a specific surgical procedure. the first part, 'tonsill-', is borrowed from the latin term for the paired lymphoid tissues in the throat. the second part, '-ectomy', originates from the greek 'ektomē', meaning 'excision' or 'cutting out'. combined in the late 19th century, these morphemes follow a transparent and logical pattern in medical terminology, where a body part name is joined with a suffix indicating an operative removal, creating a precise and internationally understood clinical term.
Analysis
tonsill: from latin tonsillae (tonsils), a body part. ectomy: from greek ektomē (a cutting out), a suffix denoting surgical removal.