Oedemas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A medical condition characterized by swelling due to excess fluid buildup in body tissues
2. An abnormal accumulation of fluid in specific areas, leading to noticeable enlargements
3. The presence of localized or generalized swelling caused by fluid retention in the interstitial spaces

Etymology: "Oedemas" is the plural of "oedema," the medical term for an abnormal build-up of fluid in body tissue, which makes swelling visible under the skin. The singular "oedema" is the form English uses for a single case, and the plural is the regular Latinate form that medical writers use when discussing more than one instance or more than one patient. Because the plural follows the same pattern as the singular, its history is the same as the base word's. Its origin lies in the Greek word for swelling, which is the root behind "oedema" and the related medical vocabulary of English. Readers who want the full history of the word can look at the entry for "oedema" itself.