retinitis
|ret-i-ni-tis|
/ˌrɛtɪˈnaɪtɪs/
inflammation of the retina
Etymology
'retinitis' originates from New Latin, specifically the formation 'retina' + '-itis,' where 'retina' ultimately came from Latin 'rete' meaning 'net,' and '-itis' meant 'inflammation.'
'retina' from Medieval Latin (ultimately from Latin 'rete') combined with New Latin '-itis' to form 'retinitis,' which entered English medical terminology in the 18th–19th centuries as 'retinitis'.
Initially, it meant 'inflammation of the retina', but over time it has also appeared in names of non-inflammatory retinal diseases (e.g., 'retinitis pigmentosa'), a usage now regarded as a historical misnomer.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
inflammation of the retina.
The patient was diagnosed with retinitis after experiencing blurred vision and floaters.
Synonyms
Noun 2
in disease names, sometimes used historically for non-inflammatory retinal disorders (e.g., retinitis pigmentosa), despite being a misnomer.
Despite its name, retinitis pigmentosa is not an inflammatory condition but a group of inherited retinal degenerations.
Last updated: 2025/08/11 07:12