asthma

[Ger. asthma; Fr. asthme; Sp., Port., & Ital. asma; Gr. ἆσθμα (asthma); fro in aw (ao) = to blow.] In Medicine: 1. Gen.: Chronic shortne of breath, from whatever cause it may arise. Till a comparatively recent period good medical writers used the term in this wide sense, and non-profe ional writers and the public do so still. asth-mắt-ic, * asth-mat-ick, adj . & s. [In Fr. asthmatique ; Sp., Port., & Ital. asma tiko; Lat. asthmatic us; Gr. ἀσθματικός ( asth matikos ) asthmatic, panting, breathing hard, from ἆσθμα ( asthma ).] [ASTHMA.] A. As adjective : 1. Pertaining or relating to asthma. the asthmatic paroxysms..."-Cycl. Pract. Med., vol. 1, p. 188. 2. Affected or threatened with asthma. "He was asthmatic and consumptive."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng., ch. vii B. As substantive: A person affected or threatened with asthma. "Asthma ticks cannot bear the air of hot rooms, and cities where there is a great deal of fuel burnt."Arbuthnot: Air. p. 188. .. an old asthmatic ."-Cyclo. Pract. Med., vol. i.,