Melanoses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An abnormal increase in melanin production in the skin or other tissues, leading to darkened spots or patches
2. A condition characterized by the presence of black or brown discolorations on the surface of the skin or organs
3. A medical term for changes in pigmentation that can affect appearance and may be associated with various underlying health issues

Etymology: "Melanoses" is simply the plural of "melanosis," so it names more than one case of the condition. The singular is built from "melan-," the combining form of the Greek "melas," meaning "black" or "dark," and "-osis," a suffix from Greek used in medicine for an abnormal or diseased condition, as in "neurosis" or "tuberculosis." Put together, the word describes a state of abnormal darkening, here the overproduction of the skin pigment melanin. Both parts were assembled from Greek building blocks, so the term is a modern medical coinage rather than something ancient physicians used. Its meaning follows directly from its pieces: "melan-" supplies the dark colour, and "-osis" marks the condition as a pathological process.