Main Entry: syph·i·lis

Pronunciation: \ˈsif-(ə-)ləs\

Function: noun

: a chronic contagious usually venereal and often congenital disease that is caused by a spirochete of the genus Treponema (T. pallidum) and if left untreated produces chancres, rashes, and systemic lesions in a clinical course with three stages continued over many years—called also lues; see primary syphilis, secondary syphilis, tertiary syphilis

Syph·i·lus \ˈsif-ə-ləs\ literary character. Syphilus is the hero of the 1530 Latin poem “Syphilis or the French Disease,” which was written by the Italian physician and poet Girolamo Fracastoro. Syphilus is a swineherd who blasphemes a sun god and as a punishment is afflicted with a disease.