Nearby Words

diseases

[dih-zeez] Origin

dis·ease

[dih-zeez] noun, verb, -eased, -eas·ing.
noun
1.
a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.
2.
any abnormal condition in a plant that interferes with its vital physiological processes, caused by pathogenic microorganisms, parasites, unfavorable environmental, genetic, or nutritional factors, etc.
3.
any harmful, depraved, or morbid condition, as of the mind or society: His fascination with executions is a disease.
4.
decomposition of a material under special circumstances: tin disease.
verb (used with object)
5.
to affect with disease; make ill.

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Diseases is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.

Origin:
1300–50; Middle English disese < Anglo-French dese(a)se, disaise; see dis-1, ease

dis·eas·ed·ly, adverb
dis·eas·ed·ness, noun


1. morbidity, complaint, derangement, distemper, indisposition, infirmity, disorder, malady.


1. health. 5. cure.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

disease
early 14c., "discomfort," from O.Fr. desaise, from des- "without, away" (see dis-) + aise "ease" (see ease). Sense of "sickness, illness" first recorded late 14c.; the word still sometimes was used in its lit. sense early 17c. Related: Diseased.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

disease dis·ease (dĭ-zēz')
n.
A pathological condition of a body part, an organ, or a system resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or environmental stress, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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