polycythaemia

polycythaemia |ˌpɒlɪsʌɪˈθiːmɪə |(US polycythemia ) ▶noun [ mass noun ] Medicine an abnormally increased concentration of haemoglobin in the blood, either through reduction of plasma volume or increase in red cell numbers. It may be a primary disease of unknown cause, or a secondary condition linked to respiratory or circulatory disorder or cancer. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from poly- ‘many ’ + -cyte ‘cell ’ + haemo- ‘blood ’ + -ia 1 .