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diphtheria definition

diph·theria (dif t̸hir′ē ə, dip-)

noun

an acute infectious disease caused by a bacterium (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) and characterized by weakness, high fever, the formation in the air passages of a tough, membranelike obstruction to breathing, and the production of a potent neurotoxin

Etymology: ModL < Fr diphtherie (so named (1855) by A. Trousseau (1801-67), Fr physician, replacing earlier diphthérite, first used (1821) by P. Bretonneau (1778-1862), Fr physician) < Gr diphthera, leather < dephein, to tan hides < IE base *deph-, to knead, stamp > Arm topʼel, to strike

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical diphtheria definition - medical

diphtheria Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • have: A: No, but one of my children in the First World War had diphtheria and she was taken to isolation hospital.

Adjective modifier

  • cutaneous: The most common form of non-respiratory diphtheria is cutaneous diphtheria; other forms include conjunctival, otic and genital lesions.

Modifies a noun

  • toxoid: These pediatric formulations have the same amount of tetanus toxoid as adult formulations, but contain between three and four times more diphtheria toxoid.

Noun used with modifier

  • dose: The Committee was informed that the Department was having increasing difficulty in getting supplies of single low dose diphtheria vaccine.
diphtheria usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

diphtheria quotes

Every lunch time I went to see how my inheritance was proceeding. Sometimes the deaths column brought good news. Sometimes the births column brought bad. The advent of twin sons to the Duke was a terrible blow. Fortunatelyanepidemic ofdiphtheria restored thestatus quo almost immediately.

-Hamer, Robert

diphtheria quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"diphtheria." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/diphtheria>

APA Style

diphtheria. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/diphtheria

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