epithelializing
|e-pi-the-li-a-li-zing|
/ɪˌpɪθiəˈlaɪz/
(epithelialize)
cover with epithelium
Etymology
'epithelialize' originates from English formation combining 'epithelial' and the verb-forming suffix '-ize'. 'epithelial' itself comes from New Latin 'epithelialis', ultimately from Greek 'epithele' where 'epi-' meant 'upon' and 'thele' meant 'nipple'.
'epithele' (Greek) entered Medieval/Neo-Latin as 'epithelium', then produced the adjective 'epithelial' in modern scientific Latin/English; the verb-forming suffix '-ize' was added in English to create 'epithelialize' (formed in modern scientific English, 19th–20th century).
Initially related to the noun meaning 'surface tissue' (epithelium); over time the verb form came to mean 'to become or cause to be covered with epithelium', a specialized medical/biological sense that it retains today.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present participle or gerund form of 'epithelialize': undergoing or causing the formation/covering of tissue with epithelium (to epithelialize; to become covered by epithelial cells).
The wound was epithelializing nicely after two weeks.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/27 08:19