What does vertigines mean?
Vertigines is a formal, relatively uncommon plural of vertigo, the word for dizziness or the sensation that the world is spinning. In medical and neurological prose, it often refers to recurring attacks rather than to the underlying condition itself, so a writer might describe a patient as having “frequent vertigines.” The form has a Latinized air because it was shaped by Latin vertiginēs, the plural of vertigō, although modern English also uses the more familiar plural vertigoes. Vertigines is related to the adjective vertiginous, as in “a vertiginous climb,” and to vertiginality, meaning dizziness or a feeling of instability. Its formal register suits clinical, literary, and historical contexts more than casual conversation, although the exact sense varies with context. Learning the form clarifies an important distinction: vertigo names the experience or condition, whereas vertigines is simply its plural form. Thus, a patient's complaint of “vertigo” describes what is happening, while “the patient experienced several vertigines” emphasizes repeated episodes.
nounThe plural of vertigo, denoting episodes of dizziness or the sensation that one's surroundings are spinning, especially when caused by a disturbance of balance.
- Instances or episodes of dizziness, especially the sensation of spinning or disturbed balance.
- The plural form of vertigo, particularly in medical, neurological, and historical prose.
"The diary records several vertigines after the climb, each lasting only a moment."
"The specialist documented her vertigines after noting that each episode lasted only a few seconds."
"Patients with balance disorders may describe recurring vertigines accompanied by nausea and visual distortion."
An accepted, Latinized plural of vertigo. The form vertigoes is more common in ordinary modern English, while vertigines is particularly associated with medical and formal prose.
"The patient's recurring vertigines prevented her from standing unaided."
One vertigo, many vertigines: a Latinized plural that gives the familiar spinning feeling a distinctly formal air.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of vertigines
Vertigines comes from Latin vertiginēs, the plural form of vertigō, meaning a whirling or spinning, which was formed from vertere, “to turn.” The plural was adopted into English alongside vertigo and remained especially familiar in medical and historical writing. The same root produced the English adjective vertiginous and its adverbs vertiginally and vertiginously.
Related word forms
How vertigines is actually used
Formal and relatively uncommon. The plural vertigoes is more usual in contemporary general English, while vertigines is especially associated with medical and historical writing and often emphasizes repeated episodes.
Easily confused with vertigines
Vertigo is the singular noun, while vertigines is one of its plural forms, usually emphasizing multiple episodes.
Vertiginous is an adjective meaning dizzy or causing dizziness, whereas vertigines is a plural noun naming episodes of dizziness.