leprosy

n. a long-lasting disease that damages the skin and nerves, sometimes leading to the loss of body parts.

n. a chronic granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, resulting in nerve damage, muscle weakness, and skin lesions. Uncountable in its medical sense.

“In ancient times, there was no effective cure for leprosy.”

“Modern multidrug therapy has made leprosy a curable condition, significantly reducing the global prevalence of the disease since the late twentieth century.”

Technical

n. something bad that spreads and should be avoided or kept away from others.

n. a figurative reference to a corrupting influence or a condition that results in social exclusion and moral decay.

“The corruption in the city government was like a leprosy that destroyed everything.”

“The critic described the spread of cynical propaganda as a moral leprosy, eating away at the foundations of the democratic institution.”

Literary

n. a word used in old books to describe many different types of skin problems.

n. a broad historical or biblical term for various contagious skin diseases, including psoriasis and vitiligo, often involving ritual uncleanness.

“The old text mentions leprosy, but it might have been a different skin problem.”

“Scholars argue that the leprosy described in the Old Testament likely refers to a range of dermatological conditions rather than the specific bacterial infection known today.”

Archaic