rheumatism
(ˈruːmətɪz(ə)m)
[ad. late L. rheumatism-us, a. Gr. ῥευµατισµ-ός, f. ῥευµατίζειν (see rheumatize). Cf. F. rhumatisme (16th c.).]
† 1. A ‘defluxion of rheum’. Obs.
| 1601 Holland Pliny II. 133 Fluxes, called by the Greekes Rheumatismes. |
2. A disease of which inflammation and pain of the joints are prominent features. In early use commonly with a and pl., an attack of this disease. acute (articular) rheumatism, the same as rheumatic fever. muscular rheumatism, myalgia.
Formerly supposed to be caused by a ‘defluxion of rheum’. In popular use the word is applied to various kinds of painful articular and muscular affections.
| 1688 Salmon Phylaxa Med. (ed. 2) 14/1 Tartarous Diseases, as the Scurvy, Pox, Dropsy, Jaundice, Gout, Rheumatism. 1699 Bentley Phal. Introd. 24 That common story, that Epictetus was lame of one Leg..by a Rheumatism. 1700 Dryden Pal. & Arc. iii. 407 And rheumatisms I send to rack the joints. 1749 R. James Diss. Fevers Add. 62 This Medicine [sc. James's Powder] has been found..to be most effectual in a Rheumatism. 1845 Budd Dis. Liver 43 Diseased heart, consequent on rheumatism. 1859 Geo. Eliot A. Bede xviii, On wet Sundays, or whenever he had a touch of rheumatism, he used to read the three first chapters of Genesis. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VII. 476 A girl..had post-scarlatinal ‘rheumatism’ at nine years of age. 1910, 1915 [see fibrositis]. 1966 Wright & Symmers Systemic Path. I. iii. 113/2 The focal lesions of acute rheumatism are usually found in close relationship to arteries. |
3. attrib.: rheumatism root, the root of (1) some species of Jeffersonia, (2) Dioscorea villosa; the plants themselves; rheumatism weed, a name for some species of Pyrola.
| 1798 Nemnich Polygl. Lex., Rheumatism weed, Pyrola minor. 1855 Dunglison Dict. Med. Sci., Rheumatism Weed, Pyrola maculata, P. umbellata. 1857 Ibid., Rheumatism Root, Jeffersonia Bartoni. 1866 Treas. Bot., Rheumatism-root, Jeffersonia diphylla. 1887 Bentley Man. Bot. 706 The rhizome of D[ioscorea] villosa,..commonly known as ‘rheumatism root’. |
Hence rheumaˈtismal [cf. F. rhumatismal], † rheumatisˈmatic adjs., rheumatic; rheumaˈtismoid a., resembling rheumatism.
| 1695 Phil. Trans. XIX. 19 Those sharp and pungent Pains which Rheumatismatick Persons so generally complain of. 1855 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. XVI. i. 11 A rheumatismal inflammation. 1858 Mayne Expos. Lex., Rheumatismoid,..resembling rheumatism;..applied to symptoms of diseases which resemble those of rheumatism. |