disease

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An abnormal condition of a human, animal or plant that causes discomfort or dysfunction; distinct from injury insofar as the latter is usually instantaneously acquired.

   The tomato plants had some kind of disease that left their leaves splotchy and fruit withered.

2. 2
   noun

   Any abnormal or harmful condition, as of society, people's attitudes, way of living etc.

   War is not man's great and terrible disease; war is a symptom, a result. The real disease is the virus of national sovereignty.

3. 3
   noun

   A lack of ease; uneasiness; trouble; vexation; disquiet.

   To ſhield thee from diſeaſes of the world, […]

4. 4
   verb

   To cause unease; to annoy, irritate.

   Whyll he yett ſpeake there cam won from the rulers off the ſynagogis houſſe which ſayde to hym: Thy doughter is deed diſeaſe not the maſter.

5. 5
   noun

   an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning

6. 6
   verb

   To infect with a disease.

Etymology

From Middle English disese, from Anglo-Norman desese, disaise, from Old French desaise, from des- + aise. Displaced native Middle English adle, audle (“disease”) (from Old English ādl (“disease, sickness”), see adle), Middle English cothe, coathe (“disease”) (from Old English coþu (“disease”), see coath). By surface analysis, dis- + ease.