The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ascites \As*ci"tes\, n. [L., fr. Gr. ? (sc. ? disease), fr. ? bladder, belly.] (Med.) A collection of serous fluid in the cavity of the abdomen; dropsy of the peritoneum. --Dunglison. [1913 Webster] AsciticWordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
ascites n 1: accumulation of serous fluid in peritoneal cavity