prognosis

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Late Latin prognōsis (“forecast, prediction; forecast of the course and outcome of a disease”), itself borrowed from Ancient Greek πρόγνωσις (prógnōsis, “forecast of the course and outcome of a disease; (Koine) foreknowledge, perceiving beforehand, prediction”), from προ- (pro-, prefix meaning ‘before; beforehand’) + γνῶσῐς (gnôsis, “inquiry, investigation; knowledge”). The plural prognoses is a learned borrowing from Late Latin prognōsēs. cognates * Middle French prognosie (“forecast, prediction”) (modern French prognosie (obsolete), prognose (“forecast of the course and outcome of a disease”)) * Sanskrit प्रज्ञा (prajñā, “intelligence, wisdom; judgment; knowledge”)

noun

1. A forecast of the future course or outcome of a situation based on what is presently known; a prediction.
   Despite the positive, constructive aspects of the Beeching Report, the gloomy prognoses on B.R. which issued from so many commentators prior to its publication have left a widespread impression that the railway is an outdated concept. 1963 September, “The Potential of a Railway”, in Modern Railways, Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 145
   The prognosis was made by taking into consideration the facts that the analog concrete had already achieved its ultimate strength by the period of 1500 days while concrete being predicted was to gain its strength limit by 1.25 time faster, that is by the period of 100 days. 2000, N. V. Vegerova, “Predicting Strength Properties of Fine Cementless Fly Ash – Furnace Bottom Ash Concrete”, in G[uy] R. Woolley, J. J. J. M. Goumans, P. J. Wainwright, editors, Waste Materials in Construction: Science and Engineering of Recycling for Environmental Protection (Waste Management Series; 1), Kidlington, Oxfordshire: Pergamon, page 19
   If free speech is the lifeblood of democracy then the fate and the prognosis of the latter are that of the former. 2008, Paul Fairfield, “Conclusion and Prognosis”, in Why Democracy?, Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press, page 123
2. (medicine) A forecast of the future course or outcome of a disease or disorder based on current medical knowledge.
   The prognosis [of measles] is unfavourable when the child is very young, when the eruption appears before the third day, or when it suddenly disappears. […] The prognosis is favourable when the gastro-pulmonary symptoms are slight, the progress of the disease is regular, and when the skin is moist after the appearance of the exanthema. 1848, John Neill, Francis Gurney Smith, “Rubeola (Measles)”, in A Handbook of the Practice of Medicine: Being a Portion of an Analytical Compend of the Various Branches of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa.: Lea & Blanchard, →OCLC, page 33
   Once the patient has worked through the stage of grieving at diagnosis, adjustment may be successful as therapy is begun and a prognosis is determined. 1986, Constance S. Kirkpatrick, Nurses’ Guide to Cancer Care, Totowa, N.J.: Rowman & Littlefield, page 132