GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Anthrax , n. [L., fr. Gr. ἄνθραξ coal, carbuncle.]
   (Med.) (a) A carbuncle. (b) A malignant pustule.
   1913 Webster
   (Biol.) A microscopic, bacterial organism (Bacillus anthracis), resembling transparent rods. [See Illust. under Bacillus.]
   1913 Webster
   An infectious disease of cattle and sheep. It is ascribed to the presence of a rod-shaped gram-positive bacterium (Bacillus anthracis), the spores of which constitute the contagious matter.  It may be transmitted to man by inoculation.  The spleen becomes greatly enlarged and filled with bacteria. Called also splenic fever.
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2.       
   Carbuncle , n. [L. carbunculus a little coal, a bright kind of precious stone, a kind of tumor, dim. of carbo coal: cf. F. carboncle. See Carbon.]
   1913 Webster
   (Min.) A beautiful gem of a deep red color (with a mixture of scarlet) called by the Greeks anthrax; found in the East Indies. When held up to the sun, it loses its deep tinge, and becomes of the color of burning coal. The name belongs for the most part to ruby sapphire, though it has been also given to red spinel and garnet.
   1913 Webster
   (Med.) A very painful acute local inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue, esp. of the trunk or back of the neck, characterized by brawny hardness of the affected parts, sloughing of the skin and deeper tissues, and marked constitutional depression. It differs from a boil in size, tendency to spread, and the absence of a central core, and is frequently fatal. It is also called anthrax.
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   (Her.) A charge or bearing supposed to represent the precious stone. It has eight scepters or staves radiating from a common center. Called also escarbuncle.
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3.       
   malignant , a. [L. malignans, -antis, p. pr. of malignare, malignari, to do or make maliciously. See Malign, and cf. Benignant.]
   Disposed to do harm, inflict suffering, or cause distress; actuated by extreme malevolence or enmity; virulently inimical; bent on evil; malicious.
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   A malignant and a turbaned Turk.
   Shak.
   
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   Characterized or caused by evil intentions; pernicious. “Malignant care.”  
   Macaulay.
   
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   Some malignant power upon my life.
   Shak.
   
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   Something deleterious and malignant as his touch.
   Hawthorne.
   
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   (Med.) Tending to produce death; threatening a fatal issue; virulent; as, malignant diphtheria.
   1913 Webster
   Malignant pustule (Med.), a very contagious disease produced by infection of subcutaneous tissues with the bacterium Bacillus anthracis.  It is transmitted to man from animals and is characterized by the formation, at the point of reception of the infection, of a vesicle or pustule which first enlarges and then breaks down into an unhealthy ulcer.  It is marked by profound exhaustion and often fatal.  The disease in animals is called charbon; in man it is called cutaneous anthrax, and formerly was sometimes called simply anthrax.
   1913 Webster
   +PJC