[amyjess]

Similarly, -itis vs. -osis.

-itis means the part of the body is swollen, while -osis means the part of the body is damaged.

I found this out back in 2012, when I had a very nasty case of tendonitis in one of my feet, and I found out that the vast majority of cases of tendonitis should be called tendinosis instead, as it's pretty rare for the tendons themselves to swell; rather, the tendons themselves deteriorate from overuse.

[sodii]

-itis refers to a specific physiological phenomenon: Inflammation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflammation)

swelling can happen without inflammaion, and mild inflammation may occur without noticable swelling.

-osis is a generic suffix for a process or condition: metamorphosis, scoliosis, hypnosis.

[rubberpoliceman]

> and mild inflammation may occur without noticable swelling.

Calor, dolor, rubor, tumor

[sodii]

They are not definition. Maybe they were, when we didn't know about cytokines and immune cells.

[tzs]

> -itis means the part of the body is swollen, while -osis means the part of the body is damaged

What if the part of the body is swollen and damaged?

[rsingla]

-opathy would generally be suitable. It implied a pathological condition involving some form of tissue damage or dysfunction.

Minor clarification, swelling does not necessarily always mean inflammation. -itis refers to inflammation of an organ or area of the both. Swelling, particularly when from fluid retention, is referred to as -edema. There is overlap though. :)

[throwup238]

So homeopathy is basically full body dysfunction?

[simonbw]

I think it's actually about taking "medicine" that causes the same (the homeo part) dysfunction (the pathy part) as you're experiencing in the hopes of curing it.

[dools]

No homeopathy is only used when there is a mental problem afflicting both the practitioner and patient.

[dataflow]

> -itis means the part of the body is swollen, while -osis means the part of the body is damaged.

Does the suffix have any similar meaning outside of medicine? Like, osmosis?

[thaumasiotes]

-osis isn't a suffix at all; compare crisis, stasis, or paralysis.

-sis is just a noun-forming suffix.

[Nition]

Also, hyper- is more, hypo- is less.

[FabHK]

Or even too much/high vs too little/low.

[digging]

More accurate to say "hyper" is above, and "hypo" is below. So hypothermia is a temperature below [typical/safe levels]

[anthk]

itis -> infection.

[obloid]

itis = inflammation

Infection can cause an itis, but not all itis is due to infection. Such as inflammatory arthritis (noninfectious) vs septic arthritis (infectious).

[anthk]

Ah, close. Thanks, then.

[dheera]

senioritis?

[lloeki]

In french we occasionally portmanteau -itis (often qualified with "acute" or "mild"), for a comedic yet genuinely emphatic effect. e.g: acute dumbitis/boreditis/tireditis

[anthk]

In Spanish too.

[plaidphantom]

I've definitely seen high school seniors get a big head!