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Origin and history of amblyopia

amblyopia(n.)

1706, "weakening of the eyesight without any apparent defect in the eyes," medical Latin, from Greek amblyōpia "dim-sightedness," noun of action from ōps "eye" (from PIE root *okw- "to see") + amblys "dulled, blunt," a word of uncertain origin; according to Watkins possibly from a suffixed form of PIE root *mel- (1) "soft." With abstract noun ending -ia. Related: Amblyopic.

also from 1706

Entries linking to amblyopia

-ia

word-forming element in names of countries, diseases, and flowers, from Latin and Greek -ia, noun ending, in Greek especially used in forming abstract nouns (typically of feminine gender); see -a (1). The classical suffix in its usual evolution (via French -ie) comes to Modern English as -y (as in familia/family, also -logy, -graphy). Compare -cy.

In paraphernalia, Mammalia, regalia, etc. it represents Latin or Greek -a (see -a (2)), plural suffix of nouns in -ium (Latin) or -ion (Greek), with formative or euphonic -i-.

*mel-(1)

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "soft," with derivatives referring to soft or softened materials.

It might form all or part of: amblyopia; bland; blandish; blenny; emollient; enamel; malacia; malaxation; malt; melt; mild; Mildred; milt; moil; mollify; Mollusca; mollusk; mulch; mullein; mutton; schmaltz; smelt (v.); smelt (n.).

It might also be the source of: Sanskrit mrdh "to neglect," also "to be moist;" Greek malakos "soft," malthon "weakling;" Latin mollire "soften," mollis "soft;" Old Irish meldach "tender."

*okw-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to see."

It might form all or part of: amblyopia; antique; antler; atrocity; autopsy; binocle; binocular; biopsy; catoptric; Cyclops; daisy; enoptomancy; eye; eyelet; ferocity; hyperopia; inoculate; inveigle; monocle; monocular; myopia; necropsy; ocular; oculist; oculus; oeillade; ogle; ophthalmo-; optic; optician; optics; optometry; panoptic; panopticon; Peloponnesus; pinochle; presbyopia; prosopopeia; stereopticon; synopsis; triceratops; ullage; wall-eyed; window.

It might also be the source of: Sanskrit akshi "the eye; the number two," Greek osse "(two) eyes," opsis "a sight;" Old Church Slavonic oko, Lithuanian akis, Latin oculus, Greek okkos, Tocharian ak, ek, Armenian akn "eye."

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