idiopathic
|id-i-o-path-ic|
/ˌɪdiəˈpæθɪk/
of unknown cause
Etymology
'idiopathic' originates from New Latin (Modern Latin), specifically the word 'idiopathicus', where Greek 'idios' meant 'one's own' and 'pathos' meant 'suffering' or 'disease'.
'idiopathic' changed from the New Latin 'idiopathicus' (formed from Greek 'idios' + 'pathos') and entered English usage in the 19th century as 'idiopathic'.
Initially it meant 'self-originating' (a disease arising in itself), but over time it evolved to the current meaning of 'of unknown cause'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a disease or condition that arises spontaneously or has no identifiable cause (a noun form: 'idiopathy').
Many idiopathies are difficult to treat because their underlying causes are unknown.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/17 06:32