pediculous

A child with pediculous hair is being treated with a special shampoo.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Infested with lice: "pediculous" describes a state of being infected or covered with lice (parasitic insects). This is the primary and most common meaning.
   • Relating to or caused by lice: It can also refer to anything pertaining to a lice infestation or the condition caused by lice.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The stray dog was found in a pediculous condition, requiring immediate veterinary treatment. (The dog was infested with lice.)
  • The pediculous child was sent home from school to receive proper hygiene care. (The child had lice.)
  • The doctor diagnosed the patient with a pediculous rash caused by body lice. (A rash resulting from a lice infestation.)

Advanced Usage

• "pediculous disease": a medical term for a condition directly caused by lice, such as pediculosis.

  • The outbreak of a pediculous disease in the shelter was quickly contained with medicated shampoos. (A disease caused by lice.)

• "pediculous state": a formal description of a person or animal suffering from a lice infestation.

  • The historical records describe the soldiers as living in a pediculous state during the long siege. (Living with lice due to poor hygiene.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pediculosis (noun): the medical condition of being infested with lice.

  • Pediculosis is commonly treated with over-the-counter lotions. (The condition of having lice.)

• Pedicular (adjective): relating to lice; a synonym for "pediculous" but less common.

  • The pedicular parasites were visible under the microscope. (Pertaining to lice.)

• Pediculicide (noun): a substance used to kill lice.

  • The pharmacist recommended a pediculicide for the infestation. (A lice-killing product.)

Synonyms

• Lousy: infested with lice (informal); also means "very bad" in a general sense.

  • The lousy blanket was full of lice. (Infested with lice.)

• Infested: overrun with parasites, including lice.

  • The infested mattress had to be discarded. (Covered with parasites.)

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms directly using "pediculous," as it is a formal or medical term. However, the informal synonym "lousy" appears in idioms like "lousy with something" (meaning "full of" or "overrun with").
  • The old house was lousy with cockroaches. (Full of cockroaches; note: "lousy" here is used figuratively.)