Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Wordsmith Wednesdays

This week's words come from Florence Nightingale's Notes on Nursing. You're gonna love these...unless your stomach is of a weak constitution.

suppuration - (n) [from the Latin sub = under + puris = pus] a condition in which pus forms under the skin

erysipelas - (n) [from the Greek erythros = red + Latin pellis = skin] an acute infectious disease of the skin caused by streptococcus virus

aperient - (n) [from the Latin aperire = to open] laxative

lachrymose - (adj) [from the Latin lacrima = tear] tearful; inclined to cry

effluvia - (n) [from the Latin ex = out of + fluere = to flow] odors, vapors or other invisible particles which emmanate from the patient's body

Now, with that in mind, go eat yourself a hearty breakfast!

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