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Added 10 October 2026

leprous

/ˈlɛpɹəs/ adjective

In Latin: leprosus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about leprous at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Of or relating to one of the diseases known as leprosy.
Infected with one of the diseases known as leprosy.
Similar to leprosy or its symptoms.

Origin

From Middle English leprous (“having leprosy or a skin disease with symptoms like leprosy; (alchemy) of metals or minerals: impure; a leper”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman leprous, lepros [and other forms], Middle French lepros, lepreux, and Old French leprous, lepros (“having leprosy; a leper”) (modern French lépreux), and from their etymon Late Latin leprosus (“having leprosy; (alchemy) of metals: impure; a leper”), from Latin lepra (“leprosy”) + -ōsus (suffix meaning ‘full of; overly; prone to’ forming adjectives from nouns).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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