Leprosy

Leprosy
Leprosy Lep"ro*sy (l[e^]p"r[-o]*s[y^]), n. [See {Leprous}.] (Med.) A cutaneous disease which first appears as blebs or as reddish, shining, slightly prominent spots, with spreading edges. These are often followed by an eruption of dark or yellowish prominent nodules, frequently producing great deformity. In one variety of the disease, an[ae]sthesia of the skin is a prominent symptom. In addition there may be wasting of the muscles, falling out of the hair and nails, and distortion of the hands and feet with destruction of the bones and joints. It is incurable, and is probably contagious. [1913 Webster]

Note: The disease now called leprosy, also designated as Lepra or Lepra Arabum, and Elephantiasis Gr[ae]corum, is not the same as the leprosy of the ancients. The latter was, indeed, a generic name for many varieties of skin disease (including our modern leprosy, psoriasis, etc.), some of which, among the Hebrews, rendered a person ceremonially unclean. A variety of leprosy of the Hebrews (probably identical with modern leprosy) was characterized by the presence of smooth, shining, depressed white patches or scales, the hair on which participated in the whiteness, while the skin and adjacent flesh became insensible. It was an incurable disease. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Leprosy — • A chronic infectious disease caused by the bacillus leprœ, characterized by the formation of growths in the skin, mucous membranes, peripheral nerves, bones, and internal viscera, producing various deformities and mutilations of the human body …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Leprosy — Студийный альб …   Википедия

  • Leprosy — Studioalbum von Death Veröffentlichung 1988 Label Combat Records …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Leprosy — Album par Death Album studio Sortie 1988 Durée 38:24 Genre Death Metal Producteur Da …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Leprosy — puede referirse a; Leprosy, banda mexicana de Thrash metal. Leprosy, segundo disco de la banda de Death metal Death. Esta página de desambiguación cataloga artículos relacionados con el mismo título. Si llegaste aquí a través de …   Wikipedia Español

  • leprosy — 1530s (earlier lepruse, mid 15c.), from leprous; see LEPER (Cf. leper). First used in Coverdale Bible, where it renders Hebrew cara ath, which apparently was a comprehensive term for skin diseases. Because of pejorative associations, the use of… …   Etymology dictionary

  • leprosy — ► NOUN ▪ a contagious bacterial disease that affects the skin, mucous membranes, and nerves, causing discoloration and lumps on the skin and, in severe cases, disfigurement and deformities …   English terms dictionary

  • leprosy — [lep′rə sē] n. [ME leprūsē < leprus, lepros: see LEPROUS] a progressive infectious disease caused by a bacterium (Mycobacterium leprae) that attacks the skin, flesh, nerves, etc.; it is characterized by nodules, ulcers, white scaly scabs,… …   English World dictionary

  • Leprosy — For the Hebrew Bible term and its varied meanings, see Tzaraath. For other uses, see Leprosy (disambiguation). Leprosy Classification and external resources A 24 year old man infected with leprosy. ICD 10 …   Wikipedia

  • leprosy — leprotic /le prot ik/, adj. /lep reuh see/, n. Pathol. a chronic, mildly infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affecting the peripheral nervous system, skin, and nasal mucosa and variously characterized by ulcerations, tubercular… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”