Prognosis

/prɑːgˈnoʊsɪs/ noun

Definition

A prognosis is a doctor’s prediction about how a disease or condition will likely develop and what the outcome might be.

Etymology

From Greek *prognōsis* 'foreknowledge', from *pro-* 'before' and *gnōsis* 'knowledge'. It originally meant any kind of prediction based on expert understanding.

Kelly Says

A prognosis is literally 'knowing before' something happens. It’s not magic fortune-telling—it's a calculated guess built from patterns doctors have seen in many patients before you.

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