phthisis Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun involving the lungs with progressive wasting of the body
    white plague; consumption; pulmonary tuberculosis; wasting disease.

WordNet

Phthi"sis noun
Etymology
L., fr. Gr. , fr. to pass or waste away: cf. F. phthisie.
Definitions
  1. (Med.) A wasting or consumption of the tissues. The term was formerly applied to many wasting diseases, but is now usually restricted to pulmonary phthisis, or consumption. See Consumption.

Webster 1913