Acnes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An inflammatory skin condition characterized by the presence of pimples, blackheads, and cysts, often affecting the face and back
2. A common dermatological disorder resulting from clogged hair follicles and high levels of sebum, leading to various types of lesions
3. A medical condition marked by the eruption of red or swollen spots on the skin, typically resulting from hormonal changes and bacteria

Etymology: "Acnes" is the plural of "acne," though the plural is rarely used because "acne" is usually treated as an uncountable noun. The original word is a scribal error. Greek medical writers used "akhnē" for the flaky, bran-like scurf on the skin, but in copying texts "akhnē" was likely misread as "akmē," meaning "point" or "peak." That misreading passed into Latin and then into modern medical terminology, where it names the pimples and blemishes it was never meant to describe.

Synonyms: blemishes, pimples, zits, spots, lesions