pathological

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English

Etymology

From pathology +‎ -ical.

Pronunciation

  • Audio (US):(file)

Adjective

pathological (comparative more pathological, superlative most pathological)

  1. (medicine) Pertaining to pathology.
    • 1868, Felix von Niemeyer, J. L Parke, Clinical Lectures on Pulmonary Phthisis, Moorhead, Simpson & Bond, page 3:
      But we can no longer regard the mere fact of these diffuse condensations of the lung becoming yellow and caseous as an evidence of their tuberculous nature, especially since the pathological anatomists, and among them Virchow, have shown that formations of the most different kind, having not the slightest connection with tubercule— as, for example, old cancerous masses, lymphatic glands swollen by a hyperplasia of cells, hæmorrhagical infarctions, abscesses, &c.— undergo exactly the same caseous transformation.
  2. (medicine) Relating to, amounting to, or caused by a physical or mental disorder.
    • 1981 April 18, Michael Bronski, “Good Production -- Bad Play”, in Gay Community News, page 10:
      Paul Canning's performance as Julian gives the character an emotional center that is not in the script: He is vulnerable without being pathological, needy without being pathetic.
  3. (mathematics) Having properties which are counterintuitive or difficult to handle.
  4. (computer science) Having properties that cause unusually bad behaviour, especially regarding correctness or performance.

Synonyms

  • (medicine, of a physical or mental disorder): pathologic (US)

Antonyms

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