syphilis Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a common venereal disease caused by the treponema pallidum spirochete; symptoms change through progressive stages; can be congenital (transmitted through the placenta)
    lues venerea; syph; lues; pox.

WordNet

Syph"i*lis noun
Etymology
NL., fr. Syphilus, the name of a shepherd in the Latin poem of Fracastoro, "Syphilus, sive Morbus Gallicus," which was published in 1530; Gr. hog, swine + dear, loving. The term was introduced into nosology by Sauvages.
Definitions
  1. (Med.) The pox, or venereal disease; a chronic, specific, infectious disease, usually communicated by sexual intercourse or by hereditary transmission, and occurring in three stages known as primary, secondary, and tertiary syphilis. See under Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary. a bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum. Usu. tretable with penicillin or other beta-lactam antibiotics.

Webster 1913