septicaemia

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   chiefly British: a serious infection involving pathogenic microorganisms in the bloodstream; blood poisoning

   The untreated wound led to septicaemia and urgent hospitalization.

Formed from septic + -aemia, the British spelling of the medical suffix meaning 'condition of the blood.' Septic comes through Latin from Greek septikos, 'putrefactive,' while -aemia derives from Greek haima, 'blood.' The historical spelling septicæmia uses the ligature æ.

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