释义 |
virulent, a.|ˈvɪrjʊlənt| Also 5 verelent, 6 vyrulent. [ad. L. vīrulentus poisonous, f. vīrus virus. So OF. and F. virulent, It., Sp., and Pg. virulento.] 1. Med. †a. Of wounds or ulcers: Characterized by the presence of corrupt or poisonous matter. Obs. (passing into next).
c1400Lanfranc's Cirurg. 77 marg., Off olde verelent woundes. Ibid. 80 If þe vlcus be virulent, þat is to seie venemi, loke if þat venym þat goiþ out be redisch or ȝelowisch. 1541R. Copland Guydon's Form. R iv, The gouernall accomplysshynge the entencyon after the vlceracyon is to drye the rottenesse that is thycke and flesshy, blody, and vyrulent. 1578Lyte Dodoens 28 Chamaepitys..layd upon great woundes, and virulent..healeth the same. 1600Surflet Countrie Farme ii. xlii. 266 A certaine person, well knowen vnto me, hauing a virulent vlcer, in manner of a Polipus in his nostrils. 1728Chambers Cycl., Ulcers are..Virulent, which instead of Pus, or Sanies, yield a malignant Virus, &c. b. Of diseases, etc.: Characterized by extreme malignancy or violence.
1563T. Gale Antidot. 22 b, Yf the desease be malygne or Virulent,..put in more of the Argentum Viuum. 1694Salmon Bate's Dispens. (1713) 28/1 It may be us'd..in the Cure of virulent Gonorrhœa's. 1748Anson's Voy. i. x. 102 The scars of wounds which had been for many years healed, were forced open again by this virulent distemper. 1799Med. Jrnl. I. 203 They deny that the contagion has become more frequent..while the disease itself has thus been rendered less virulent and fatal. 1866Rogers Agric. & Prices I. iv. 66 Scurvy in its most virulent form, and leprosy, were common disorders. 1871Tyndall Fragm. Sci. (1879) I. v. 178 Germs..which may be pushed by foul air into virulent energy of reproduction. transf.1860Emerson Cond. Life, Fate Wks. (Bohn) II. 327, I find the like unity in human structures rather virulent and pervasive. 1865Merivale Rom. Emp. lxv. VIII. 170 A virulent insurrection was still glowing throughout a large portion of the empire. 1871Tyndall Fragm. Sci. (1879) II. xiii. 299 There is often virulent contagion in a confident tone. 2. a. Of serpents, material substances, plants, etc.: Possessing venomous or strongly poisonous qualities; highly injurious or fatal to life; extremely noxious.
1577Stanyhurst Descr. Irel. 7/2 in Holinshed II, Ireland bred no snake before S. Patrick was borne: ergo, it engendered no toade, no Adder, no Frogge, nor any other virulent worme. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 196 They giue the too forward maydens a virulent potion. 1657W. Cole Adam in Eden c, The Viper and all other virulent Creatures whatever. 1671R. Bohun Wind 132 Herbs or mineralls, with Virulent, and Deleterious Qualities. 1807J. E. Smith Phys. Bot. 216 How the same soil..should in a leaf of the vine or sorrel produce a wholesome acid, and in that of a spurge or manchineel a most virulent poison. 1839Carlyle Chartism i. (1858) 4 While the virulent humour festers deep within, poisoning the sources of life. 1877F. T. Roberts Handbk. Med. (ed. 3) I. 8 In certain cases it contains specific agents in the causation of disease, and promotes their development or renders them more virulent. fig.1894P. Pinkerton Adriatica, On Asolan Hills, Jealousy's virulent darts, Fortune's opprobrious thrusts. †b. Potent, powerful, effective. Obs.—1
1599A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physicke 2/2 A very excellent water for the payne of the heade... It wilbe very good and virulent for the heade. c. Obnoxiously violent or strong. nonce-use.
1771Smollett Humph. Cl., To Sir W. Phillips 6 May, Nay, I am convinced that she has likewise a most virulent attachment to his person; though her love never shows itself but in the shape of discontent. 3. fig. Violently bitter, spiteful, or malignant; full of acrimony or enmity: a. Of action or feeling.
1607Hieron Wks. I. 325 Where hee rules, there is a rancourous heart and a rayling tongue, there malicious and virulent courses cannot bee wanting. 1632Massinger Maid of Hon. iii. iii, I bring you..the sting Of virulent malice, festering your fair name, Plucked out and trod on. 1726Dk. Wharton in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. IV. 339 Every virulent vote, every passionate reproach..are so many real commendations of my conduct. 1769Junius Lett. xv. (1788) 89 The virulent exaggeration of party must be employed, to rouse..the passions of the people. 1815W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 98 On my head I may draw down your virulent spite. 1855Brewster Newton II. xviii. 165 We have failed, like Mr. Baily, to discover the ground of Flamsteed's virulent antipathy to Halley. 1867‘Ouida’ C. Castlemaine's Gage 1 She was hated by Whig beauties with virulent wrath. b. Of speech or writing.
1631Star Chamb. Cases (Camden) 29 He is greatly faulty in his virulent termes and charging the same upon my Lord Falkland. 1689Wood Life (O.H.S.) III. 313 A virulent pamphlet..wherein he foolishly reflected on King William. 1713Steele Englishm. No. 15. 101 It is impossible..to escape the virulent Pen of that Rascal the Examiner. 1777Priestley Disc. Philos. Necess. 172 Your virulent censures of myself..are abundantly too severe. 1840Macaulay Ess., Clive (1851) II. 526 The meetings were large, stormy, even riotous, the debates indecently virulent. 1868Freeman Norm. Conq. II. App. 540 He stops twice in the course of his history to apostrophize..Harold..in terms of virulent abuse. c. Of persons, their dispositions, etc.
1613Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 215 Let him take heed of striking his wife, said another, or to be virulent in termes against her. 1647Clarendon Contempl. Ps. Tracts (1727) 472 Let the virulent tongues of ill men traduce us with what calumnies they please. 1693J. Edwards Author. O. & N. Test. 150 (Appion), a virulent writer against the Jews. 1714Swift Pres. St. Aff. Wks. 1841 I. 495 Since the virulent opposers of the queen..have so far prevailed..as to make [etc.]. 1792Gouv. Morris in Sparks Life & Writ. (1832) II. 227 His enemies here are as virulent as ever. 1833I. Taylor Fanat. i. 3 The deluded religionist, even when virulent in an extreme degree. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xiii. III. 276 He had since disgusted some virulent fanatics by his humanity and moderation. 1883F. M. Peard Contrad. I. 42, I am glad you don't consider me very virulent. 4. Microbiology. Of a phage: causing lysis of the host cell immediately after replicating within it, without a period as a prophage; lytic, not lysogenic. [The sense is due to F. Jacob et al. 1953, in Ann. de l'Inst. Pasteur LXXXIV. 223, who used F. virulent.]
1953, etc. [see temperate a. 8]. 1969A. M. Campbell Episomes i. 2 Phage types which are able to establish lysogenic systems and to reproduce as prophage are called temperate phages, as distinguished from virulent phages which are unable to do so. 1973R. G. Krueger et al. Introd. Microbiol. xviii. 506/1 This type of virus is called a virulent virus, the agent functioning continuously as a lethal intracellular parasite. Hence ˈvirulent v. trans., to render virulent.
1661Feltham Resolves (ed. 8) ii. lvi. 301 They say, Certain spirits virulented from the inward humor, darted on the object, convey a Venom where they point and fix. |