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elephantiasis

(el′ə fən tī′ə sis)

noun

a chronic disease characterized by the enlargement of certain parts of the body, esp. the legs and genitals, and by the hardening and ulceration of the surrounding skin: it is caused by obstruction of the lymphatic vessels, often due to infestation by filarial worms

Origin: L < Gr elephantiasis < elephas, elephant: from resemblance of the skin to the elephant's hide + -asis

See elephantiasis in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Chronic, often extreme enlargement and hardening of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue, especially of the legs and external genitals, resulting from lymphatic obstruction and usually caused by infestation of the lymph glands and vessels with a filarial worm.

Origin:

Origin: Latin elephantiāsis

Origin: , from Greek

Origin: : elephās, elephant-, elephant

Origin: + -iāsis, -iasis

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