Diathesis

/daɪˈaθəsɪs/ · noun

Meaning

(medicine) A hereditary or constitutional predisposition to a disease or other disorder..

Definitions by Sense

1. (medicine) A hereditary or constitutional predisposition to a disease or other disorder.
2. (grammar) Voice (active or passive).

Example Sentences

Medical materialism seems indeed a good appellation for the too simple-minded system of thought which we are considering. […] All such mental over-tensions, it says, are, when you come to the bottom of the matter, mere affairs of diathesis (auto-intoxications most probably), due to the perverted action of various glands which physiology will yet discover.

There are, however, distinct differences between diatheses and idiosyncrasies; diatheses definitely tend to the development of disease, for example the scrofulous diathesis of our forebears favours the onset of tuberculosis; idiosyncrasies are abnormal reactions but do not necessarily dispose to disease.

When a coal miner developed the eye disease nystagmus, was this to be diagnosed as due to work conditions or to an inherent constitutional diathesis?

Synonyms for diathesis

Antonyms for diathesis

Related Words

Word Forms

• diatheses

Usage Notes

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