convalescence

C2+ Topic:Health & Medicine

US /ˌkɑnvəˈlɛsəns/ UK /ˌkɒnvəˈlɛsəns/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
the gradual recovery of health after illness

She spent her convalescence reading by the seaside.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the gradual recovery of... recovery recuperation rehabilitationconvalescingmending healing

Opposites

relapse deterioration decline

Word family

Related forms convalesceconvalescent valid value

Etymology

From Late Latin convalescentia, from Latin convalescere ('to grow strong, recover'), from con- (intensive) + valescere ('to grow strong'), inchoative of valere ('to be strong, be well').

convalescere Latin valere Latin *h2welh1- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Health & Medicine Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# convalescence

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌkɑnvəˈlɛsəns/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌkɒnvəˈlɛsəns/

## Meanings
1. the gradual recovery of health after illness

## Examples
- She spent her convalescence reading by the seaside.

## Synonyms
- recovery
- recuperation
- rehabilitation
- convalescing
- mending
- healing

## Antonyms
- relapse
- deterioration
- decline

## Related Forms
- convalesce
- convalescent
- valid
- value

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: convalescere
- Root: valere
- Root: *h2welh1-

## Etymology
From Late Latin convalescentia, from Latin convalescere ('to grow strong, recover'), from con- (intensive) + valescere ('to grow strong'), inchoative of valere ('to be strong, be well').

## AI Etymology
Convalescence is a noun meaning "the gradual recovery of health after illness". Historically, it is from Late Latin convalescentia, from Latin convalescere ('to grow strong, recover'), from con- (intensive) + valescere ('to grow strong'), inchoative of valere ('to be strong, be well'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: convalescence is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Latin convalescere, Latin valere, and Proto-Indo-European *h2welh1-. Close English family members include convalesce, convalescent, valid, and value.

## Topics
- Health & Medicine
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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