scrofulous, a.
(ˈskrɒfjʊləs)
Also 7–9 scrophulous.
[f. scrofula + -ous. Cf. F. scrofuleux.]
1. Caused by, or of the nature of scrofula.
| 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate (1639) 395 A body having Struma, or scrupulous [sic] tumours. 1732 Arbuthnot Aliments, Rules of Diet 386 The English Consumptions, generally speaking, proceed from a Scrophulous Disposition. 1856 Macaulay Biog. 78 (Johnson), He had inherited from his ancestors a scrofulous taint. |
| fig. 1784 Cowper Task iv. 582 Excess, the scrofulous and itchy plague That seizes first the opulent [etc.]. |
2. Affected with, or suffering from, scrofula.
| 1708 Swift Abol. Chr. Wks. 1755 II. i. 86 What would become of the race of men in the next age, if we had nothing to trust to beside the scrophulous consumptive productions furnished by our men of wit and pleasure? 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xiv. III. 479 Charles once handled a scrofulous Quaker, and made him a healthy man and a sound Church⁓man in a moment. |
3. transf. Having the appearance of being affected with scrofula.
| 1837 P. Keith Bot. Lex. 79 The punctured leaf assumes a wrinkled, reddish, and scrofulous appearance. |
4. fig. Of literature, etc.: Morally corrupt.
| 1842 Browning Soliloquy Sp. Cloister viii, Or, my scrofulous French novel On grey paper with blunt type! 1866 Thornbury Greatheart III. 328 Eight or ten numbers of the most scrofulous of the French novels. 1889 Ch. Times 28 June 593/2 Holywell-street was re-named ‘Booksellers'-row’ because of its scrofulous reputation. |
Hence
ˈscrofulously adv.,
ˈscrofulousness.
| 1727 Bailey vol. II, Scrofulousness. 1847–54 Webster, Scrofulously. 1894 Gould Illustr. Dict. Med., Scrofulousness. |