path-, patho-, -path-, -pathia, -pathic, -pathology, -pathetic, -pathize, -pathy
(Greek: feeling, sensation, perception; suffering, disease, or disorder; a system of treating diseases)
In medicine, some of these elements usually mean "someone who suffers from a disease of, or one who treats a disease"; so, they should not be confused with the words that mean "feeling" which are also shown on these pages even though both meanings come from the same Greek element.
The attribution of human feelings or qualities to inanimate nature, often thought of as a device producing false emotionalism: Susan, the patient, was observed talking to the rocks in the garden, making pathetic fallacies; such as, asking if the rocks were enjoying the sunshine.
pathetically
1. Of, relating to, expressing, or arousing pity, sympathy, or tenderness; inadequate, pitiful; such as, a pathetic attempt at playing basketball.
2. Affecting or exciting emotion; originally, moving emotions or passions; stirring; now, specifically, arousing the tender emotions, especially pity, sorrow, sympathy, melancholy; affecting, often to tears.
3. Sometimes, in a weakened sense, exciting pity and amusement; as, to hear a pathetic story; to see a pathetic scene; to present a pathetic appearance.
2. Affecting or exciting emotion; originally, moving emotions or passions; stirring; now, specifically, arousing the tender emotions, especially pity, sorrow, sympathy, melancholy; affecting, often to tears.
3. Sometimes, in a weakened sense, exciting pity and amusement; as, to hear a pathetic story; to see a pathetic scene; to present a pathetic appearance.
pathoanatomical
Referring to the anatomy of diseased tissues.
pathoanatomy
pathobiology
Pathology with emphasis more on the biological than on the medical aspects.
pathoclisis
A specific elemental sensitivity to specific toxins, or a specific affinity of some toxins for certain systems of organs; a tendency for toxins to attack certain organs.
pathocryptia
The tendency to deny one's disease or to verbally express very little about it.
pathodixia
The tendency to talk too much about one's disease accompanied by a desire to display the injured or diseased part.
pathodontia
In dentistry, diseases of the teeth.
pathoformic
A reference to the start of a disease; said of symptoms at the beginning of a mental disorder.
Any disease-producing micro-organisms; such as, a bacteria or a virus: During the past winter many people were affected by a pathogen resulting in very bad colds or the flu; and even those who had their doctors give them flu vaccinations came down with bad cases of influenza!
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pathogenesis
The origin and developmental course of a disease or mental disorder.
pathogenetic
pathogenic
pathogenicity
1. Capacity of something to cause disease or the ability to produce pathologic changes.
2. The capacity of a micro-organism to produce disease.
2. The capacity of a micro-organism to produce disease.
You can find self-scoring quizzes over many of the words in this subject area by going to this Vocabulary Quizzes page.
