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scrofulous

scrofulous

9.9
Having swollen lumps in the neck caused by tuberculosis
  • adjective
  • /ˈskroʊfjələs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : escrófulo
  • The doctor diagnosed her with a scrofulous condition that needed immediate treatment.

Examples

  • He was concerned when he noticed scrofulous swelling in his neck lymph nodes.

  • In his Natural History, Pliny the Elder wrote that silphium was good for soreness of the windpipe, bruises, and scrofulous.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Historically, many people with scrofulous symptoms sought cures in herbal remedies.

Antonyms

695 1.0

In good body and mind condition without sickness or injury

Compounds

9.5

Swollen lumps in the neck caused by an infection, often tuberculosis

Surface Forms

scrofulous positive

Morphology

scrofulous = scrofula (transparent) = scrofula + ous

This is a straightforward adjective formed from the noun 'scrofula' with the common suffix '-ous', meaning 'relating to' or 'characterized by'.

Etymology

Scrofulous comes from the old medical name scrofula, a disease that caused swollen glands in the neck and scabby skin, so scrofulous originally meant 'affected by scrofula'.