Dictionary

decompensation en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /diːˌkɒmpɛnˈseɪʃən/ (UK)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- English compensation English decompensation From de- + compensation.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The inability of a diseased or weakened organic system or organ to compensate for its deficiency, resulting in functional deterioration.
   • Once it was determined that hyperthyroidism was the probable etiology of her cardiac decompensation, the next step was treatment of the underlying disease. 1982, Pamela Martyn, “If You Guessed Cardiovascular Disease, Guess again”, in American Journal of Nursing, volume 82, number 8, page 1239:
2. (countable, uncountable) The deterioration of cognitive or emotional functionality in a person who is distressed or who suffers from a psychological disorder.
   • A varying percentage of our combat soldiers reach the limit of their endurance and must leave their foxholes, not for physical wounds but because of emotional decompensation. 1945 May, William C. Menninger, “The Mentally or Emotionally Handicapped Veteran”, in Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, volume 239, page 21:

Forms

Relateds

decompensate

Translations (7)

fi kompensoimaton vajaatoiminta (inability of an organ to compensate) · fr décompensation (inability of an organ to compensate) · fi dekompensaatio (deterioration of functionality in a person) · fi dekompensaatio (inability of an organ to compensate) · cmn 失代償 /失代偿 (deterioration of functionality in a person) · cmn 失代償 /失代偿 (inability of an organ to compensate) · fr décompensation (deterioration of functionality in a person)