acromegaly

From French acromégalie, from New Latin acromegalia, from Ancient Greek ἄκρον (ákron, “tip, extremity”) and μέγας (mégas, “large”). By surface analysis, acro- +‎ -megaly.

• IPA^(key): /ˌækɹoʊˈmɛɡəli/

acromegaly (plural acromegalies)

1. (pathology) A chronic disease marked by enlargement of the bones of the extremities, face, and jaw that is caused by over-activity of the pituitary gland.
   • 1934, Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer, Grove Press, published 1961, page 5:

     Tania is a fever, too—les voies urinaires, Café de la Liberté, Place des Vosges, bright neckties on the Boulevard Montpamasse, dark bathrooms, Porto Sec, Abdullah cigarettes, the adagio sonata Pathétique, aural amplificators, anecdotal seances, burnt sienna breasts, heavy garters, what time is it, golden pheasants stuffed with chestnuts, taffeta fingers, vaporish twilights turning to ilex, acromegaly, cancer and delirium, warm veils, poker chips, carpets of blood and soft thighs.

• acromegalia
• acromegaloidism
• Marie's disease

• gigantism