scoliosis

What it means

1. countableuncountablemedicineThe abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.

   “Scoliosis,” Mwita said. “Curvature of the spine. It’s hereditary, but that doesn’t always explain it. Most common in girls, but boys get it, too.”

   2018, Nnedi Okorafor, Who Fears Death, HarperVoyager, page 211

   Synonyms: scolioma

In a sentence

“Scoliosis,” Mwita said. “Curvature of the spine. It’s hereditary, but that doesn’t always explain it. Most common in girls, but boys get it, too.”

2018, Nnedi Okorafor, Who Fears Death, HarperVoyager, page 211

Where it comes from

1. Ancient Greekσκολίωσις“twisting; torsion”
2. Latinscoliosis
3. Englishscoliosis

From Latin scoliosis, from Ancient Greek σκολίωσις (skolíōsis, “twisting; torsion”).