Word
measles
US/ˈmizəɫz/
UK/mˈiːsəlz/
Definition
n. a very infectious disease that causes a fever and small red spots on the skin. It is most common in children but can be prevented with a vaccine.
n. an acute, highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, respiratory symptoms, and a maculopapular skin rash.
Examples
“The doctor confirmed that the child has the measles.”
“Public health officials urged parents to vaccinate their children following a small outbreak of measles in the local primary school.”
“While once a common childhood illness, measles has become increasingly rare in developed nations due to the widespread implementation of the MMR vaccine during early infancy.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor confirmed that the child has the measles.”
contextual
“Public health officials urged parents to vaccinate their children following a small outbreak of measles in the local primary school.”
complex
“While once a common childhood illness, measles has become increasingly rare in developed nations due to the widespread implementation of the MMR vaccine during early infancy.”
Usage
Usually takes a singular verb despite the plural-looking 's' ending.
Pitfall
Measles are dangerous.
Measles is dangerous.
Like many diseases ending in 's', measles is treated as a singular noun in standard English.
Real-World Examples
Common in health writing
“Measles can be serious for all age groups, but can be especially dangerous for babies and young children.” “In Germany, parents can be fined if their children aren't jabbed against measles.” Etymology
Either from Middle Dutch masels (“blood blisters, measels”) or Middle Low German maselen (“red blemishes, measels”), both from Old High German masala (“blood blister, phlegmon”). Doublet of measlings. Cognate with mazer & mase and Middle Low German masele & māsel. Influenced in pronunciation and some senses by mesel (“leprous, leper”).
From Middle English mesel (“leprous, leper”), from Norman mesel (“leprous, leper”), from Old French mesel (“leprous, leper”), from Late Latin misellus (“leper”), from miser (“wretched, wretch”) + -ellus (“-elle”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.