Varicose

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈvæɹ.ɪ.kəʊs/

Definitions

1. Abnormally swollen and twisted veins, typically in the legs, caused by pooled blood and faulty valve function
2. Enlarged and twisted veins primarily located in the legs arise from inadequate blood circulation and malfunctioning vein valves
3. Dilated and gnarled veins primarily found in the lower extremities result from improper blood flow and ineffective venous valves

Etymology: The Latin "varix" meant a swollen, twisted vein, and it was used by physicians with that exact anatomical sense. The adjective "varicose" is built from that noun's stem "varic-" plus the suffix "-ose," meaning "full of" or "characterised by," so it describes veins that are "full of" that twisted swelling. The same root reaches into much older territory: the Proto-Indo-European "*wers-" is generally linked to the idea of something raised up or turned, which is why the Latin noun sits alongside Old Church Slavonic "vrĭxŭ," meaning "top" or "peak," and Lithuanian "viršus," also "top." The English adjective is a learned formation drawn directly from Latin medical vocabulary, so it reflects the vocabulary of physicians rather than everyday speech. Because the word is a deliberate scientific-style construction, its exact coinage cannot be pinned to a single author.

Synonyms: swollen, enlarged