n. 1. Any of various rheumatic diseases and disorders, especially rheumatoid arthritis. 2. Pain and stiffness in the joints or muscles. [Latin rheumatismus, rheum, from Greek rheumatismos, from rheumatizesthai, to suffer from rheum, from rheuma, rheumat-, flow, watery discharge from the body (formerly thought to cause aches and pains); see RHEUM.] |
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