rheumatism

noun

rheu·​ma·​tism ˈrü-mə-ˌti-zəm How to pronounce rheumatism (audio)
ˈru̇-
1
: any of various conditions characterized by inflammation or pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue
muscular rheumatism
2

Examples of rheumatism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web What propelled his wanderings in later life is unknown—perhaps changing climates to treat his persistent rheumatism. Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 June 2023 An excess of yellow bile, for instance, caused rheumatism; too much black bile caused cancer. Jack Feerick, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2020 Bower and Murphy, for instance, carve paths into the forest each spring to pick young Lindera benzoin (spicebush) leaves, which the Cherokee (whose ancestral knowledge informs much of Appalachia’s traditional medicine) have long used for colds, rheumatism, and anemia. Mark Johanson, Bon Appétit, 23 Sep. 2021 It’s said to help with ailments ranging from rheumatism and arthritis to respiratory issues and skin problems. Mosha Lundström Halbert, Vogue, 21 July 2022 In fact, back in the 19th century, oil was an annoying by-product of brine wells drilled by salt prospectors; it was either discarded or bottled and hawked to gullible customers as a cure for rheumatism and sprains. Mac Margolis, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2011 At Carolus Thermen, the sprawling bathhouse complex in Aachen's leafy Stadtpark, whose waters Charlemagne once relied upon to soothe his rheumatism, the soft cascade of rushing water was punctuated by the trill of voices. William Cook, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Oct. 2022 Haygarth pitted these rods against sham, wooden Perkins tractors that looked just the same as the 5-guinea ones on sale, and found that 4 of 5 patients with rheumatism reported that their pain improved. Rosie Mestel, Discover Magazine, 19 May 2021 If inhaled, the organisms could end up in the lungs and cause a pneumonia called, variously, coccidioidomycosis or desert rheumatism or Valley fever. Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 2 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rheumatism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin rheumatismus flux, rheum, from Greek rheumatismos, from rheumatizesthai to suffer from a flux, from rheumat-, rheuma flux

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rheumatism was in 1670

Dictionary Entries Near rheumatism

Cite this Entry

“Rheumatism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rheumatism. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rheumatism

noun
rheu·​ma·​tism ˈrü-mə-ˌtiz-əm How to pronounce rheumatism (audio)
: any of various conditions marked by stiffness, pain, or swelling in muscles or joints

Medical Definition

rheumatism

noun
rheu·​ma·​tism ˈrü-mə-ˌtiz-əm How to pronounce rheumatism (audio) ˈru̇m-ə- How to pronounce rheumatism (audio)
1
: any of various conditions characterized by inflammation or pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue
muscular rheumatism
2

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