Polycythaemia

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A hematological disorder marked by an elevation in red blood cell levels within the blood circulation
2. This condition signifies an abnormal increase in red blood cell mass, which can result in hyperviscosity and potential health risks
3. A medical condition characterized by an excessive quantity of red blood cells in the bloodstream, leading to various complications and increased blood viscosity

Etymology: Polycythaemia is a modern medical coinage, built from classical Greek parts that were never combined this way in antiquity. "Poly" means "many," "cyt" (from "kytos") means "cell" or "hollow vessel," and "-aemia" comes from "haima," meaning "blood." Put together, the term describes a blood condition with too many cells, specifically red blood cells. The "-aemia" ending carries a small oddity. Its "th" sound is not the Greek original; the spelling was adjusted for euphony, which is why the English form is often written with a "th" while the "ae" in its spelling still points to "haima." The word follows the pattern of "erythrocythemia," a related term for excess red cells, which makes its structure easy to read once you know the parts.