prognoosis

Prognoosis is a term that appears in some dictionaries and older texts as a variant or obsolete form of prognosis. In contemporary medical and scientific English, the noun prognosis is standard for the forecast of the likely course and outcome of a disease or condition. Prognoosis is therefore considered rare, archaic, or regional; when encountered, it usually has the same basic sense as prognosis, but usage is inconsistent and not widely accepted.

Etymology: The word is related to prognosis, itself from Greek origins combining pro- and gnosis. Prognoosis would be a variant formation that has not endured in modern English usage.

Usage: In historical medical literature of the 18th to 19th centuries, prognoosis sometimes appeared as the predicted outcome of a patient or condition. In modern usage, editors and medical dictionaries typically recommend prognosis. Some language variants or older translations may preserve prognoosis. The term is occasionally found in non-medical contexts to mean foreknowledge or prediction in a general sense, but prognosis or forecast is preferred in most technical domains.

See also: Prognosis; Prognostication; Forecast

Note: For clear communication, most contemporary sources reserve prognostication or prognosis as the standard terms, while prognoosis is generally regarded as a historical or rare form.