vitiligo
Meaning
a medical condition in which areas of the skin lose their pigment, appearing as white patches.
Structure
Usage
The dermatologist diagnosed the patient with vitiligo after observing the characteristic white patches on her hands.
There is ongoing research into more effective treatments for vitiligo.
Some public figures have helped raise awareness about living with vitiligo.
Etymology
The word 'vitiligo' is a direct loanword from Latin, where it denoted a skin disease causing discoloration. Its ultimate origin is uncertain, but it is likely derived from the Latin 'vitium', meaning 'fault' or 'defect', reflecting the historical perception of the condition as a blemish. The term entered medical English in the 17th century, retaining its specialized clinical meaning. Its journey exemplifies how a Latin term for a physical flaw was adopted unchanged into scientific nomenclature to describe a specific dermatological pathology.
Analysis
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