Dictionary

itis en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈaɪtɪs/

Etymology

Back-formation from -itis (“disease characterized by inflammation”). Compare phobia, from -phobia, sophy, from -sophy, ism, from -ism, and ana, from -ana.

Meanings

1. (informal) A medical condition accompanied by inflammation.
   • 1973, April 16, “Scorecard”, Robert W. Creamer ed., in Sports Illustrated “. . . Arthritis, tendinitis and all those other itises will eventually catch up with you.”
2. (Caribbean, informal, qualifier:usually preceded by the) Food coma.

Forms