ascites

[ uh-sahy-teez ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity; dropsy of the peritoneum.

ascites

/ əˈsɪtɪk; əˈsaɪtiːz /

noun

1. accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity

Derived Forms

• ascitic, adjective

Other Words From

• as·cit·ic [uh, -, sit, -ik], as·citi·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascites¹

1350–1400; Middle English aschites < Medieval Latin < Greek askítēs ( hýdrōps ) abdominal (dropsy), equivalent to ask ( ós ) belly + -itēs -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascites¹

C14: from Latin: a kind of dropsy, from Greek askitēs, from askos wineskin

Example Sentences

As her liver function started to fail, Jane suffered from ascites - a build-up of fluid in her abdomen - that needed draining every 10 days.

From BBC

“In South Korea, patients with cerebral hemorrhage, hepatocirrhosis, liver cancer, ascites, diabetes and kidney infections don’t come to traditional clinics. But in North Korea, traditional doctors treat them,” said Kim, who resettled in South Korea in 2002 and now works for Seoul’s Well Saem Hospital of Korean Medicine.

From Seattle Times

Those complications, claim the reports, include a build-up of abdominal fluid known as ascites and also hepatic encephalopathy, which can affect cognitive function.

From BBC

The public Czech Radio and newspaper denikn.cz cited seven sources as saying last month that the president had suffered from ascites, or liquid collecting in the abdomen, during his previous hospital stay.

From Reuters

But according to BBC Prague correspondent Rob Cameron, officials have not commented on claims by numerous sources that he is suffering from ascites, a build up of fluid in his abdomen most commonly associated with cirrhosis of the liver.

From BBC