Gonorrhoeic

/ˌɡɒnəˈreɪɪk/ adjective

Definition

British variant spelling relating to gonorrhoea, using both Greek spelling conventions and the '-ic' suffix.

Etymology

Combines British spelling 'gonorrhoea' with the '-ic' suffix to create an adjectival form emphasizing the disease quality, following Greek medical terminology traditions.

Kelly Says

English borrowed Greek medical terms wholesale and then couldn't standardize the spelling, so doctors still use at least three different ways to write 'gonorrhea'—chaos preserved in the medical dictionary.

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