prognosis

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *próder. Ancient Greek πρό (pró) Ancient Greek προ- (pro-) Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃tisder. Ancient Greek γνῶσῐς (gnôsĭs) Ancient Greek πρόγνωσῐς (prógnōsĭs)bor. Late Latin prognōsislbor. English prognosis Learned borrowing from Late Latin prognōsis (“forecast, prediction; forecast of the course and outcome of a disease”), itself borrowed from Ancient Greek πρόγνωσις (prógnōsis, “forecast of the course and outcome of a disease; (Koine) foreknowledge, perceiving beforehand, prediction”), from προ- (pro-, prefix meaning ‘before; beforehand’) + γνῶσῐς (gnôsĭs, “inquiry, investigation; knowledge”). The plural prognoses is a learned borrowing from Late Latin prognōsēs. Cognates * Middle French prognosie (“forecast, prediction”) (modern French prognosie (obsolete), prognose (“forecast of the course and outcome of a disease”)) * Sanskrit प्रज्ञा (prajñā, “intelligence, wisdom; judgment; knowledge”)

1. A forecast of the future course or outcome of a situation based on what is presently known; a prediction.

   “I may say here that it is one of the evidences of original character, that it is apt to baffle all prognosis from a mere observer's standpoint.”

   “Despite the positive, constructive aspects of the Beeching Report, the gloomy prognoses on B.R. which issued from so many commentators prior to its publication have left a widespread impression that the railway is an outdated concept.”

2. A forecast of the future course or outcome of a disease or disorder based on current medical knowledge.

   “Hovvbeit it is to be noted (vvhich vve hinted in the prognoſis) that the ſvvelling doth often appear critically and profitably, and thereby the ſick are recovered of their diſeaſes; […]”

   “The prognosis [of measles] is unfavourable when the child is very young, when the eruption appears before the third day, or when it suddenly disappears. […] The prognosis is favourable when the gastro-pulmonary symptoms are slight, the progress of the disease is regular, and when the skin is moist after the appearance of the exanthema.”