"inflammation of a vein," 1820, medical Latin, from phlebo- "vein" + -itis "inflammation."
Entries linking to phlebitis
phlebo-
word-forming element in medicine meaning "a vein or veins," from Greek phlebo-, combining form of phleps "vein," a word of uncertain origin.
-itis
word-forming element in medicine denoting "diseases characterized by inflammation" (of the specified part), Modern Latin, from Greek -itis, feminine of adjectival suffix -ites "pertaining to." Feminine because it was used with an implied nosos "disease," a feminine noun; especially in arthritis (nosos) "(disease) of the joints." Arthritis (16c.) was one of the earliest appearances of the suffix in English and from it the suffix was abstracted in other uses.