polycythemia

pol y cy the mi a |ˌpäliˌsīˈTHēmēə ˌpɑliˌsaɪˈθimiə |(Brit. polycythaemia ) ▶noun Medicine an abnormally increased concentration of hemoglobin in the blood, through either 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.: from modern Latin polycythaemia, from poly- ‘many ’ + -cyte ‘cell ’ + Greek haima ‘blood ’ + -ia 1 .