syphilis Definition

syphilis
noun

1. medicine.
A sexually transmitted disease caused by bacterial infection and characterized by painless ulcers on the genitals, fever and a faint red rash, which if left untreated may eventually result in heart damage, blindness, paralysis and death.

Derivative: syphilitic
adj

Relating to or affected with syphilis.

noun

Someone infected with syphilis.

Etymology: 17c: named after Syphilus, the infected hero of a 16c Latin poem.