Leprosy

Pronunciation: /ˈlɛprəsi/

Definitions of leprosy

noun a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affecting the skin, peripheral nerves, and mucous membranes

Example Sentences

A1 Leprosy is a contagious disease.

A2 People with leprosy may experience numbness in their skin.

B1 Early detection and treatment of leprosy can prevent disabilities.

B2 There are still misconceptions and stigma surrounding leprosy in many communities.

C1 Leprosy is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae.

C2 Historically, leprosy was considered a curse and those affected were isolated from society.

Examples of leprosy in a Sentence

formal Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae.

informal My great-grandfather was diagnosed with leprosy when he was young.

slang I heard that rumor about her spreading faster than leprosy.

figurative The spread of misinformation can be compared to the way leprosy spreads, slowly but steadily damaging the community.

Grammatical Forms of leprosy

• past tense: leprosyed
• plural: leprosies
• comparative: more leprous
• superlative: most leprous
• present tense: leprosies
• future tense: will leprosy
• perfect tense: have leprosied
• continuous tense: is leprosying
• singular: leprosy
• positive degree: leprosy
• infinitive: to leprosy
• gerund: leprosying
• participle: leprosied

Origin and Evolution of leprosy

First Known Use: 1350 year

Language of Origin: Greek and Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'leprosy' originated from the Greek word 'lepra' and the Latin word 'lepra', both meaning scales or rough skin.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe a skin disease characterized by disfiguring skin sores and nerve damage, the term 'leprosy' has evolved to encompass a broader understanding of infectious diseases affecting the skin and nerves.