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-itis

inflammation of

Greek · -itis (-ῖτις)

Greek -itis means "inflammation" of a body part. Attach it to the organ: arthr (joint) + itis is arthritis, bronch (airway) + itis is bronchitis. Jokingly it can mean an obsession.

Memory trick

ITIS sounds like "it is": it is red, hot and sore, so it is inflamed.

Words from this root