pox
pox Lexical Profile
pox Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various contagious viral diseases characterized by skin eruptions or pustules that often leave pitted scars, such as chickenpox or smallpox.
"Before modern vaccination programs, outbreaks of the pox devastated entire communities."
A curse, plague, or severe misfortune (used chiefly in archaic or literary imprecations such as "a pox on").
"The character angrily wished a pox upon both rival families for their endless feuding."
Syphilis (usually preceded by "the"; now dated or historical).
"In eighteenth-century medical treatises, syphilis was commonly referred to as the pox."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although originally the plural of "pock" (a pustule or blister), "pox" is treated as a singular noun in modern English (e.g., "a pox on your house").
• Rhymes for pox
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Originated in the 15th century as an altered spelling of "pocks," the plural of "pock" (meaning a pustule or blister), from Old English "pocc."