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