Phthisis

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  phthisis \phthi"sis\ (th[imac]"s[i^]s; 277), n. [L., fr. Gr.
     fqi`sis, fr. fqi`ein to pass or waste away: cf. F. phthisie.]
     (Med.)
     A wasting or consumption of the tissues. The term is now
     obsolete; it was once applied to many wasting diseases, but
     in the early 1900's became restricted to tuberculosis of the


     lungs (pulmonary phthisis, or consumption). See
     {Consumption}. [Obs.]
     [1913 Webster + PJC]
  
     {Fibroid phthisis}. See under {Fibroid}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  phthisis
       n : involving the lungs with progressive wasting of the body
           [syn: {pulmonary tuberculosis}, {consumption}, {wasting
           disease}, {white plague}]