Acromegalics

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual affected by a hormonal disorder resulting in excessive growth, often presenting enlarged features and extremities
2. a person diagnosed with acromegaly who experiences abnormal physical changes, particularly in the face and hands
3. someone suffering from a condition characterized by overproduction of growth hormone leading to distinctive skeletal and soft tissue alterations

Etymology: "Acromegalics" is simply the plural of "acromegalic," which describes a person or thing relating to acromegaly, the hormonal disorder that causes bones of the hands, feet and face to enlarge in adults. The adjective is built from "acromegaly," a term from Greek roots meaning "extremity" and "large," with the English suffix "-ic" added to form the adjective. The suffix "-ic" traces back through Latin "-icus" and Old French "-ique" before reaching English, where it was adopted as a common way to turn nouns into adjectives. Its Proto-Indo-European ancestry is distant, and the more useful thread is that the same ending appears in countless scientific and medical terms built on classical roots.