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sep·sis

(sĕpsĭs)

Systemic infection by pathogenic microorganisms, especially bacteria, that have invaded the bloodstream, usually from a local source. Sepsis is characterized by fever, increased number of white blood cells, increased heart rate, and other signs of widespread infection.

[Greek sēpsis, from sēpein, to make rotten, corrupt, possibly from a pre-Greek root *tyāk^w-, *tyak^w- and akin to Sanskrit kyāku, fungus, possibly alteration (influenced by Sanskrit kavakam, mushroom, fungus) of earlier *tyāku.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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