pathology a formerly used and now highly offensive name for Down's syndrome
▶ USAGE See at Down's syndrome
Mongolism in American English
(ˈmɑŋgəlˌɪzəm; ˈmɑngəlˌɪzəm)
noun [oftenm-]
Obsolete
Down syndrome
mongolism in American English
(ˈmɑŋɡəˌlɪzəm, ˈmɑn-)
noun
(sometimes cap) Pathology(now considered offensive and no longer in technical use)
Down syndrome
Word origin
[1895–1900; mongol + -ism]This word is first recorded in the period 1895–1900. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: apothecaries' measure, backwind, frame of reference, neon, slapstick-ism is a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nounsfrom verbs (baptism). On this model, -ism is used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice,state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion oradherence, etc. (criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism)