Phthisic

Alternative forms

• phthisick obsolete

Origin

From Middle English tisike, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin phthisicus ("suffering from tuberculosis"), from Ancient Greek φθισικός (phthisikos, "consumptive"), from φθίσις (phthisis, "tuberculosis, consumption")

Full definition of phthisic

Noun

1. (pathology) A wasting illness of the lungs, such as asthma or tuberculosis; phthisis.
2. (pathology, formerly) Any wasting disease.
3. A person suffering from phthisis.
4. Any wasting or shrinking of another body part such as, for example, the eye (phthisis bulbi).

Derived terms

• phthisical
• phthisicky

Adjective

1. Of or relating to phthisis or tuberculosis; tubercular.