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Glite Dictionary
cholera infantum

cholera infantum

9.9
A serious illness in young babies that causes severe diarrhea and vomiting
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒlərə ɪnˈfæntəm/
  • Archaic
translation icon : cólera infantil
  • The doctor explained that cholera infantum can be very dangerous for infants if not treated promptly.

Examples

  • Parents should be aware of the symptoms of cholera infantum to seek medical help in time.

  • Frost knew these things up close, losing his four-year-old son Robert Jr. to cholera infantum in 1900.

    Academic text (2008)

  • In the past, cholera infantum was often confused with outbreaks of cholera among adults.

Surface Forms

cholera infantum singular
cholera infantums plural

Morphology

cholera + infantum

The compound literally reads as 'cholera' + 'infantum' (i.e. relating to infants), so its meaning — a cholera-like gastroenteritis occurring in infants — is directly derivable from the parts. Although 'infantum' is a Latinized and infrequent English form (so unfamiliar to many learners), if a learner knows both constituents the compositional interpretation is straightforward and mirrors common cross-linguistic patterns (e.g. 'infantile cholera').

Etymology

The term cholera infantum comes from Latin and literally names cholera, a severe disease with strong diarrhea and vomiting, of infantum, meaning 'infants'. Doctors used this phrase when babies showed those cholera-like symptoms, so today it refers to a very serious stomach illness in young children.