leprous etymology

Etymology

The word "leprous" comes from the Greek word "lepra," meaning "scaly." It was first used in the 14th century to describe a skin disease characterized by scaly patches and lesions.

Meaning

Leprous means:

• Having or affected by leprosy, a chronic infectious disease that causes skin lesions, nerve damage, and other complications.
• Resembling leprosy in appearance or symptoms.
• Figuratively: Afflicted with a moral or spiritual blemish.

Origin

The disease leprosy has been recognized since ancient times. The earliest known references to leprosy can be found in the Bible (Leviticus 13-14) and the ancient Egyptian Ebers papyrus (c. 1550 BCE).

The term "leprosy" comes from the Greek word "lepra," which was used by Hippocrates in the 5th century BCE to describe a variety of skin diseases. By the Middle Ages, the term had come to be associated specifically with the disease we now know as leprosy.

The cause of leprosy was unknown until the late 19th century, when it was discovered to be caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy is a highly contagious disease that is primarily spread through contact with infected individuals.

Today, leprosy is curable with antibiotics, but it can still cause long-term damage to the skin, nerves, and other organs if not treated promptly.

leprous relate terms

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• leprosy

  Etymology Greek lepros scaly rough Meaning Leprosy is a chronic infectious di

• leprosy

  Etymology Greek lepros scaly rough Meaning Leprosy is a chronic infectious di

• leprous

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• leper

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