Avitaminosis

/ˌeɪvɪtəmɪˈnoʊsɪs/ noun

Definition

A disease or condition caused by the deficiency or lack of one or more vitamins in the body.

Etymology

From a- (not) + vitamin (from Latin vita, life + amine) + -osis (condition). Created in early 20th century as vitamin science developed.

Kelly Says

Avitaminosis literally means 'without-vitamin-condition,' and discovering these diseases was transformative: it explained why sailors got scurvy and showed that invisible compounds in food were actually essential for life.

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