orthopnea in American English
(ɔrˈθɑpniə, ˌɔrθɑpˈniə, -θəp-)
nounPathology difficult or painful breathing except in an erect sitting or standing position
Also: orthopnoea Derived forms
orthopneic or orthopnoeic adjective
Word origin
[1650–60; ‹ Gk
orthópnoia, equiv. to
orthópno(
os) breathing upright (
ortho- ortho- +
pno(
e᷄) breath +
-os adj. suffix) +
-ia -ia]