verminous

adjective

ver·​min·​ous ˈvər-mə-nəs 

1

: consisting of or being vermin : noxious

2

: forming a breeding place for or infested by vermin : filthy

verminous garbage

3

: caused by vermin

verminous disease

Examples of verminous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Men, women and children languished there in conditions of almost unimaginable squalor, brutality, overcrowding, starvation, verminous infestation and neglect. — Patrick McGrath, New York Times, 28 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

vermin + -ous, probably originally after Latin verminōs "infested with maggots," from vermin- (base of vermināre "to be affected with griping pains, to be infested with maggots"—latter sense by false association with vermis "worm"—derivative of vermina "racking pains") + -ōsus -ose entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for verminous

• terminus
• conterminous
• coterminous

Medical Definition

verminous

adjective

ver·​min·​ous ˈvər-mə-nəs 

1

: consisting of, infested with, or being vermin

2

: caused by parasitic worms

verminous gastritis