noun · neutersecond declension
epithēlium
epithēlium n (genitive epithēliī)
Classical[ɛ.pɪˈtʰeː.li.ũː]Ecclesiastical[e.piˈtɛː.li.um]
Meaning
- New Latinepithelium
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | epithēlium | epithēlia |
| genitive | epithēliī | epithēliōrum |
| dative | epithēliō | epithēliīs |
| accusative | epithēlium | epithēlia |
| ablative | epithēliō | epithēliīs |
| vocative | epithēlium | epithēlia |
Origins
Introduced by Frederik Ruysch in the 18th century, originally referring to the covering of small "nipples" of tissue on the lip. Initially a first-declension noun epithēlia, from Ancient Greek ἐπι- (epi-, “on, atop”) + Ancient Greek θηλή (thēlḗ, “nipple”) + -ia; the nominative singular was later reinterpreted as a second-declension neuter plural.
In English words that came into English from epithēlium
- epitheliumepithēlium