Definition of elephantiasis
elephantiases
play \ˌe-lə-fən-ˈtī-ə-ˌsēz, -ˌfan-\1 : enlargement and thickening of tissues (as from chronic lymphedema); specifically : the enormous enlargement of a limb or the scrotum caused by obstruction of lymphatic vessels by filarial worms (especially Wuchereria bancrofti)
2 : an undesirable usually enormous growth, enlargement, or overdevelopment elephantiasis of the imagination
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
elephantiasis was our Word of the Day on 05/09/2010. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Did You Know?
In Latin elephantiasis referred to a kind of leprosy in which the skin takes on the appearance of an elephant's hide. The word is still used in the medical field for various infectious skin diseases in which the affected part becomes grossly enlarged. The first known figurative use of "elephantiasis" is by English author George Meredith in a letter dated December 22, 1866. In that letter, he ribs an acquaintance for his exaggerated description of the size of a mackerel, telling him that he has "become the victim of a kind of mental elephantiasis."
Origin and Etymology of elephantiasis
New Latin, from Latin, a kind of leprosy, from Greek, from elephant-, elephas
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of elephantiasis
elephantiases
\-ˌsēz\play: enlargement and thickening of tissues (as from chronic lymphedema); specifically : the enormous enlargement of a limb or the scrotum caused by obstruction of lymphatics by filarial worms of the genus Wuchereria (W. bancrofti) or a related genus (Brugia malayi)
Learn More about elephantiasis
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up elephantiasis? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!