Word origin
[1895–1900;
dermato- +
myositis inflammation of muscle tissue, irreg. ‹ Gk
myós (gen. of
mŷs muscle, mouse) +
-itis]This word is first recorded in the period 1895–1900. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: backstage, cutback, flamenco, freewheel, hit-and-rundermato- is a combining form meaning “skin,” used in the formation of compound words. Otherwords that use the affix dermato- include: dermatoglyphics, dermatomycosis, dermatophyte, dermatoplasty, dermatozoon; -itis is a suffix used in pathological terms that denote inflammation of an organ (bronchitis; gastritis; neuritis) and hence, in extended senses, nouns denoting abnormal states or conditions, excesses,tendencies, obsessions, etc. (telephonitis; baseballitis)