The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Arthritis \Ar*thri"tis\ ([aum]r*thr[imac]"t[i^]s), n. [L., fr.
Gr. 'arqri^tis (as if fem. of 'arqri`tis belonging to the
joints, sc. no`sos disease) gout, fr. 'a`rqron a joint.]
(Med.)
Any inflammation of the joints, including the gout. A variety
of forms of arthritis are recognized, some of which (such as
rheumatoid arthritis, also called arthritis deformans and
arthritis nodosa) are chronic and progressive, and lead to
incapacitation and deformity.
[1913 Webster +PJC]