Syphilis

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈsɪfɪlɪs/

Origin

Modern Latin, originally the title of a poem by Girolamo Fracastoro concerning "Syphilus", the supposed first sufferer of the disease.

Full definition of syphilis

Noun

1. (disease) A disease spread via sexual activity, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.

Synonyms

• great-pox obsolete
• syph slang

Derived terms

• syphilitic
• syphilize
• syphiloid