diabetes

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromδιαβαίνω“to pass through”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromδιαβήτης
3. Latin · derived fromdiabētēs“siphon”
4. English todaydiabetes

From Latin diabētēs (“siphon”), from Ancient Greek διαβήτης (diabḗtēs), from Ancient Greek διαβαίνω (diabaínō, “to pass through”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 19th c. Diabetes mellitus; any of a group of metabolic diseases whereby a person (or other animal) has high blood sugar due to an inability to produce, or inability to metabolize, sufficient quantities of the hormone insulin.
• from 15th c. Diabetes insipidus; any condition characterized by excessive or incontinent urine, now specifically as caused by impaired production of, or response to, the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin.