scurvy
scurvy
Definition
scurvy (skʉr′vē)
noun
a disease resulting from a deficiency of ascorbic acid in the body, characterized by weakness, anemia, spongy gums, bleeding from the mucous membranes, etc.
Etymology: < scurvythe
scur′·vily adverb
scur′·vi·ness noun
scurvy
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- prevent: A normal, well balanced diet will usually supply enough vitamin C to prevent scurvy.
- get: He said " this is the 20 th Century, how did you get scurvy?
- cause: A diet lacking in vitamin C can cause scurvy, a disease that affects the muscles, teeth, .. .
- cure: In 1928 vitamin C was isolated and shown to be the substance necessary to prevent and cure scurvy.
- eliminate: His older brother, Sir Gilbert Blane, a naval doctor, advocated the use of limejuice for sailors to eliminate scurvy.
- treat: The Royal Navy later used it - ineffectively, of course - to treat scurvy, an illness caused by vitamin deficiency.
Adjective modifier
- infantile: In 1877 he was the first to define a then mysterious childhood disease, which he named ' infantile scurvy ' .
Preposition: on
- voyage: Origin Probably arises from the practice of eating pomegranates as a source of Vitamin C, to guard against scurvy on long sea voyages.
- ship: Captain Cook was one of the most successful at combating scurvy on board ship by providing fresh lime or lemon juice.
Used with adjective complement
- prevent: For example, the label of a vitamin C supplement could state that vitamin C prevents scurvy.
- call: A deficiency in vitamin C leads to a disease called scurvy.
- have: While very few people actually have scurvy, even minor deficiencies of vitamin C can increase the incidence of bruising.
Modifies a noun
- grass: Look for plants such as sea pink, moss campion, scurvy grass, sea mayweed and lichens on the rocky foreshore.
- dog: Did ye ken it was talk like a pirate day, ye scurvy dogs?
- knave: Keelhaul the scurvy knaves, hoist the jolly roger!
- deficiency: While very few people actually have scurvy, even minor deficiencies of vitamin C can increase the incidence of bruising.
- crew: Plot Outline: The Governor's daughter, Elizabeth, is kidnaped by the pirate Captain Barbossa and his scurvy crew of rogues.
- trick: After four breakfasts and a gallon of champagne, to serve us such a scurvy trick.
Noun used with modifier
scurvy Quotes
[The play] is like to be a very conceited scurvy one, in plain English.
Browse dictionary entries near scurvy
- scurry
- scurrilous
- scurrility
- scurrile
- scurf
- scuppernong
- scupper
- scup
- scunner
- scungilli
