verminous

adjective

ver·​min·​ous ˈvər-mə-nəs How to pronounce verminous (audio)
1
: consisting of or being vermin : noxious
2
: forming a breeding place for or infested by vermin : filthy
verminous garbage
3
: caused by vermin
verminous disease

Examples of verminous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Men, women and children languished there in conditions of almost unimaginable squalor, brutality, overcrowding, starvation, verminous infestation and neglect. Patrick McGrath, New York Times, 28 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

vermin + -ous, probably originally after Latin verminōs "infested with maggots," from vermin- (base of vermināre "to be affected with griping pains, to be infested with maggots"—latter sense by false association with vermis "worm"—derivative of vermina "racking pains") + -ōsus -ose entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of verminous was circa 1616

Dictionary Entries Near verminous

Cite this Entry

“Verminous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verminous. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

verminous

adjective
ver·​min·​ous ˈvər-mə-nəs How to pronounce verminous (audio)
1
: consisting of, infested with, or being vermin
2
: caused by parasitic worms
verminous gastritis

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