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Glite Dictionary
variolous

variolous

9.9
Related to or showing signs of smallpox
  • adjective
  • /ˈvɛrɪələs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : varioloso
  • The variolous marks on his skin were a clear indication that he had suffered from smallpox.

Examples

  • The doctor explained that variolous symptoms could lead to severe complications if not treated promptly.

  • I have purposely selected several cases in which the disease appeared at a very distant period prior to the experiments made with variolous smallpox matter to show that the change produced in the constitution is not affected by time.

    Academic text (1996)

  • In historical accounts, variolous individuals often faced significant stigma due to the disease.

Synonyms

variolic
vsvariolous
  • Archaic
9.9

Relating to smallpox, such as its rash or scars

includes actual infection or visible resemblance, not only general relation
variolar
vsvariolous
  • Specialized
9.9

Relating to smallpox

includes being infected or resembling the disease rather than only description
variolate
vsvariolous
  • Specialized
9.9

Skin that has small round scars from smallpox

covers both relation to the disease and being infected, not only visible scars
poxed
vsvariolous
  • Archaic
9.9

Having a disease that causes sores on the skin like smallpox

is specific to smallpox rather than any pox or venereal infection

Surface Forms

variolous positive

Morphology

variolous = variola (opaque) = variol + ous

Although formed by a regular suffixation (variola + -ous), the base 'variola' is a rare medical term, so average learners cannot derive the meaning from its parts.

Etymology

The word variolous comes from the old Latin word variola, which meant 'smallpox'. The root vari- meant 'spotted' or 'different' and is the same root in various and variety, so variolous points to the spotty skin of smallpox and means 'relating to or like smallpox'.