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Definition of variola
: smallpox; also : its causative poxvirus (species Variola virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus)
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Additional testing of the variola samples is under way to determine if the material in the vials is viable (i.e., can grow in tissue culture).
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'variola'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of variola
borrowed from Medieval Latin, “pustule, pox,” going back to Late Latin, “pustule,” from varius “affected by pox, leprous” (adjective derivative of varus “pimple” + Latin -ola, variant of -ula -ule after vowels — more at varix ◆Late Latin varius is very likely independent of classical varius “having contrasting colors, varied” (see 1various).
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