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Glite Dictionary
hyperemesis gravidarum

hyperemesis gravidarum

1 7.6
A severe pregnancy illness causing strong feelings of sickness and vomiting that can lead to losing too much body water
  • noun
  • /ˌhaɪpərˈɛmɪsɪs ˌɡrævɪˈdɑrəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hiperemesis gravídica
  • The most probable cause of Charlotte's death is hyperemesis gravidarum (which has nothing to do with hysterical rejection of the fetus), not TB.

Examples

  • Doctors explained that hyperemesis gravidarum could lead to serious health issues for both the mother and the baby if left untreated.

  • A neighbor had hyperemesis gravidarum for the entire duration of the pregnancy.

    Blog text (13)

  • She suffered with hyperemesis gravidarum.

    Blog text (10)

  • It sounds like I'm being a drama queen, I know, but I had hyperemesis gravidarum.

    Blog text (13)

  • During her first trimester, she was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, which made it difficult for her to keep any food down.

  • Women experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum often require medical treatment to avoid dehydration and other complications.

How Severe

hyperemesis gravidarum
  • Specialized
1 7.6

Surface Forms

hyperemesis gravidarum singular
hyperemesis gravidarums plural

Morphology

hyperemesis + gravidarum

The term is compositionally built from medical Latinate elements: 'hyperemesis' (intense vomiting) plus 'gravidarum' (of pregnancy), so the meaning 'severe vomiting during pregnancy' follows directly from the constituents. Although the form is technical and uses a Latin genitive, a learner who knows both parts can transparently infer the overall meaning.

Etymology

Hyperemesis gravidarum comes from old Greek and Latin words: hyper means 'too much', emesis means 'vomit', and gravidarum refers to 'pregnancy'. So it paints the picture of 'too much vomiting during pregnancy', which is why the term means a very bad kind of pregnancy sickness that can lead to dehydration.