dys-

An abnormality of shape or size, usually of developmental origin.

1. Abnormality of shape or form.
2. A branch of clinical genetics concerned with the diagnosis and interpretation of patterns of the three types of structural defects: malformation, disruption, and deformation.

1. A branch of science dealing with the study of congenitally deformed fetuses; also teratology.
2. A branch of clinical genetics concerned with the diagnosis and interpretation of patterns of the three types of structural defects: malformation, disruption, and deformation.

1. Preoccupation with the possibility of developing a physical deformity or a delusional conviction that such a deformity has already developed.
2. An abnormal dread of deformity, particularly in others.

1. An irrational fear of being deformed or the illusion that one is deformed.
2. An obsessive fear or, more commonly, delusional conviction that one is physically deformed or otherwise abnormal; sometimes used loosely to refer to any hypochondriacal complaint of delusional intensity.

1. A reference to a mental disorder characterized by a normal person's obsession with an imagined defect in physical appearance; also called muscle dysmorphia, dysmorphophobia, reverse anorexia.
2. Characterized by a fear of being deformed; also called body dysmorphic disorder.
3. Relating to a persistent complaint of a perceived bodily defect that is not noticeable to others; occasionally several parts of the body are involved.

Dysmorphophobics have anxiety about their faces, their breasts, or hips, etc.; of body or limbs being wrinkled, misshapened, too large, too small; or of even of unpleasant odors coming from body sweat or from their breaths, etc.

Sufferers tend to believe that others will comment adversely about their appearance or body odors and so such victims try to avoid the company of possible critics (whether real or imaginary).

They may be unable to look others in the eyes and try to hide the body part of which they are self-conscious, growing their hair longer or wearing a hat to conceal imagined baldness or misshapened ears, wearing dark glasses to hide the shapes of their eyes, or avoid swimming so others will not see their mostly nude bodies.

Some people will not even look in mirrors because their reflections upset them or they will wash zealously to remove bodily odor which is imperceptible to others.

Defective vision, with distortion of the shape of objects perceived.

Malformation or badly-shaped body parts or structures.

Improper laying down or breakdown of a myelin sheath of a nerve fiber, caused by abnormal myelin metabolism.

Snowy, wintry.

Anomic aphasia (any disturbance in the comprehension or expression of language due to brain lesion).

A condition in which a patient forgets words or has difficulty finding words for written or oral expressions.

Having impaired (bad) teeth.