Meanings
plural ophthalmias
- countableuncountablemedicineSynonym of ophthalmitis (“inflammation of the eye”).
Dr. Buck reports that the Swabians also believe in the efficacy of fasting spittle for sore eyes; and our never-failing Pliny records the Roman belief that ophthalmia may be cured by anointing the eyes every morning with fasting spittle.
1891 July, Fanny D. Bergen, “Animal and Plant Lore”, in Popular Science, page 377Synonyms: ophthalmitis
Synonyms & antonyms
nounSynonym of ophthalmitis (“inflammation of the eye”).
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekὀφθαλμός
- Old Frenchobtalmie
- Medieval Latinobtalmia
- Englishophthalmia
From Medieval Latin obtalmia and Old French obtalmie, ultimately from Ancient Greek ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós). Re-classicized from the Greek spelling, instead of archaic obtalmy (“eye inflammation, (also?) longsightedness”).
More words from Medieval Latin, Old French, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic رَمَد
- رَمَد (ramad)ophthalmitis
Finnish oftalmia
- oftalmiaophthalmitis
French ophtalmie
- ophtalmieophthalmitis
German Ophthalmie
- Ophthalmieophthalmitis
Irish oftailme
- oftailmeophthalmitis
Italian oftalmite, oftalmia
- oftalmiteophthalmitis
- oftalmiaophthalmitis
Cite this entry
ophthalmia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ophthalmia
“ophthalmia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ophthalmia. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ophthalmia,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ophthalmia.
Source: ophthalmia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.