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Glite Dictionary
cataplasm

cataplasm

1 9.9
A soft warm paste put on the skin to reduce pain or swelling
  • noun
  • /ˈkætəˌplæzəm/
  • Archaic
translation icon : cataplasma
  • What is a cataplasm?

Examples

  • In olden times, people often used a clay cataplasm to treat bruises and sprains.

  • Applying a warm cataplasm helped relieve her chest congestion during the winter illness.

  • The doctor recommended a cataplasm to ease the swelling on his leg.

  • The cataplasm was too hot!

  • The doctor recommended a cataplasm made of warm herbs to soothe the patient’s aching muscles.

  • She applied a cataplasm to the bruise to help reduce the swelling and relieve the pain.

  • For her sore throat, she used a cataplasm of flaxseed mixed with hot water to ease the discomfort.

Synonyms

poultice
vscataplasm
  • Specialized
8 8.4

A soft warm mass of herbs or flour applied to the skin to reduce pain and swelling

is applied hot to relieve inflammation or pain without specifying fastening
plaster
vscataplasm
  • Archaic
3 6.5

A hot soft material put on the skin to reduce pain or swelling

focuses on relieving inflammation or pain rather than improving circulation

Surface Forms

cataplasm singular
cataplasms plural

Morphology

cataplasm = plasm (opaque) = cata + plasm + cata

Although historically analyzable as cata- + -plasm, the meaning 'poultice' is not derivable by modern learners from those parts.

Etymology

Cataplasm comes from Greek parts kata- 'down' and plassein 'to form', so it originally meant something 'formed and spread down' on the skin. Think of it as a warm 'paste' or plaster you put on a sore place to ease pain and swelling, which is why a cataplasm is a soft, moist poultice used to soothe the body.