disease-modifying
|dis-ease-mod-i-fy-ing|
🇺🇸
/dɪˈziːz ˈmɑdəˌfaɪɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/dɪˈziːz ˈmɒdɪˌfaɪɪŋ/
change a disease's course
Etymology
'disease-modifying' is a compound formed from 'disease' and the present participle 'modifying'. 'disease' originates from Old French 'desaise' (from 'des-' meaning 'not' + 'aise' meaning 'ease'); 'modify' originates from Latin 'modificare', specifically from 'modus' meaning 'measure' and 'facere' meaning 'to make.'
'disease' came into English via Old French 'desaise' and Middle English 'disese'; 'modify' came from Latin 'modificare' through Old French/Medieval Latin and Middle English. The hyphenated compound 'disease-modifying' arose in modern medical English (20th century onward) to describe interventions that change a disease's course.
Originally 'disease' referred broadly to lack of ease or illness and 'modify' meant to make changes; combined in modern usage the phrase specifically denotes interventions that alter the progression of a disease rather than only relieving symptoms.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
altering the natural course of a disease (for example, slowing, halting, or reversing its progression); often used to describe therapies or drugs that change disease progression rather than only treating symptoms.
Disease-modifying treatments can slow the progression of multiple sclerosis.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/16 02:05