syphilis
|sy-phi-lis|
/sɪˈfɪlɪs/
sexually transmitted bacterial disease
Etymology
'syphilis' originates from Neo-Latin, specifically the name 'Syphilis' coined by the Italian physician-poet Girolamo Fracastoro in his 1530 poem 'Syphilis sive morbus gallicus'.
'syphilis' changed from the Neo-Latin proper name 'Syphilis' and was adopted into English in the 16th century as 'syphilis'.
Initially it referred to the fictional name 'Syphilis' in Fracastoro's poem; over time it evolved into the medical term for the disease now called syphilis.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum, characterized by stages (primary chancres, secondary rash and mucous lesions, latent period, and possible tertiary systemic complications).
Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum and can progress through several stages if untreated.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/27 16:20