remission

When we talk about remission, we are usually talking about a welcome pause in something difficult. Imagine a storm that has been raging for weeks suddenly turning into a calm, sunny day; that is the essence of remission.

In medicine, doctors use this word when a patient's disease is no longer showing active symptoms. It doesn't always mean the disease is 'cured' forever, but it means the patient is feeling much better and the illness is under control. It is a very hopeful word in healthcare.

Outside of hospitals, you might hear it in legal or financial settings. If a judge decides that a prisoner has been on their best behavior, they might grant a remission of sentence, which means the person gets to leave prison a little earlier. It is all about reduction, relief, and a fresh start.

The word remission has deep roots in the Latin language. It comes from the word remissio, which means 'a sending back' or 'a slackening.' It is derived from the verb remittere, where re- means 'back' and mittere means 'to send.'

Historically, the word was used to describe the act of 'sending back' a debt or a punishment. Think of it as a king or a lender deciding to 'send back' the bill instead of collecting it. By the 14th century, it entered Middle English through Old French, carrying the meaning of forgiveness or pardon.

Over the centuries, the medical usage became more prominent. By the 17th century, physicians began using it to describe the 'slackening' of a fever or the temporary disappearance of a disease. It is fascinating how a word that started as a way to talk about money and law shifted to describe the biological rhythms of the human body.

Using remission correctly depends on the context. In a medical setting, you will often hear phrases like 'in remission' or 'complete remission.' It is a formal term, so you are more likely to hear it from a doctor than in a casual chat between friends.

When talking about law, you might hear about the 'remission of a sentence.' This is highly formal and usually appears in news reports or legal documents. You wouldn't typically say 'I got a remission on my homework,' as that would sound quite strange and overly dramatic!

Common word pairings include long-term remission, spontaneous remission, and granting remission. Because it carries a serious tone, it is best used when discussing health, legal matters, or significant financial forgiveness. If you are talking about a simple break from work, use 'a break' or 'a pause' instead.

While remission itself isn't often used in common idioms, it is related to concepts of relief and forgiveness. Here are five expressions that capture similar feelings:

• Clear the air: To resolve a misunderstanding or tension, similar to how remission resolves symptoms.
• Wipe the slate clean: To forgive past mistakes or debts, much like the legal definition of remission.
• Turn the corner: To start improving after a difficult period, often used when a patient enters remission.
• A clean bill of health: A formal statement that someone is healthy, which often follows a period of remission.
• Let off the hook: To be released from an obligation or punishment, similar to the reduction of a sentence.

Remission is a non-count noun in most contexts, meaning you don't usually say 'a remission' or 'remissions.' You say 'the patient is in remission.' It follows the standard stress pattern for nouns ending in -ion, with the stress on the second syllable: re-MISS-ion.

The pronunciation is /rɪˈmɪʃən/ in both British and American English. A common mistake is to stress the first syllable, but remember that the 'miss' part is the heartbeat of the word. Rhyming words include omission, commission, submission, transmission, and permission.

Grammatically, it is often paired with the preposition 'in.' You are in remission. It is a formal noun, so it is rarely used as a verb—though the verb form remit is common in business for sending payments.