Prostatitis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A medical condition characterized by inflammation of the prostate gland, which can cause pain and discomfort in the pelvic area
2. An ailment involving swelling and irritation of the prostate, often resulting in urinary issues or pelvic pain
3. A condition marked by the inflammation of the prostate, typically leading to symptoms such as painful urination and discomfort in the lower abdomen

Etymology: The name is a clear case of a word built from parts that were each coined or borrowed separately. "Prostate" comes from Ancient Greek "prostátēs," meaning "one who stands before" or "front-stander," built from "pro-" (before) and "histēmi" (to stand). In Greek the term described a person who stood in front, such as a patron or protector, and by way of Medieval Latin "prostata" and Middle French "prostate" it reached English as the name of the gland, which sits in front of the bladder. The ending "-itis," meaning inflammation, has its own history. It comes from the Greek suffix "-ītis," used with words for diseases, and was taken into New Latin as a medical suffix. English then adopted it as a standard way to name inflamed organs, so "prostatitis" is a modern compound formed by joining the gland's name to this suffix.

Synonyms: prostate inflammation