noun
consumption
An old name for tuberculosis.
The old diary records a death from consumption.
Etymology
The Latin verb includes using up or wasting away. Tuberculosis received this older name because its prolonged illness could seem to consume the body through progressive weight loss.
More examples
- The novel mentions consumption.
- She explained that consumption was an older disease name.
- The museum traced the history of consumption.
Forms
consumption
Similar words
- tuberculosis
- The modern disease name.
- wasting
- Loss of body tissue rather than a specific disease.