Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to or characteristic of smallpox: The term "variolous" describes something that pertains to, is caused by, or resembles the disease smallpox (variola).
   • Affected with or containing the smallpox virus: It can describe a person, material (like pus or scabs), or a condition associated with the smallpox infection.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The variolous patient was immediately isolated to prevent an outbreak. (The patient with smallpox was immediately isolated.)
  • In the 18th century, variolous matter was sometimes used in early inoculation attempts. (Material from smallpox sores was used.)
  • The variolous pustules are a hallmark symptom of the disease. (The smallpox-related pustules are a key symptom.)

Advanced Usage

• "Variolous inoculation": A historical term for the deliberate introduction of material from smallpox pustules into the skin of a healthy person to induce a mild case and confer immunity, a precursor to vaccination.
  • Variolous inoculation, though risky, was practiced before Edward Jenner developed the cowpox vaccine.

Variants and Related Words

• Variola (n): The medical name for the smallpox virus and the disease it causes.
• Variolation (n): The historical practice of variolous inoculation.
• Varioloid (adj/n): Resembling smallpox; or a mild form of smallpox occurring in a previously vaccinated person.

Synonyms

• Pox-related: Pertaining to smallpox (though "pox" can refer to other diseases like chickenpox).
• Smallpox: When used attributively (e.g., smallpox scab). Note: "Variolous" is the precise adjective form.

Notes on Usage

• Technical/Historical Term: "Variolous" is primarily used in medical, historical, or scientific contexts. It is not common in everyday modern English, especially since the global eradication of smallpox.
• Specificity: It refers specifically to smallpox (variola), not to other diseases that cause pustules or "pox" (e.g., chickenpox).

Adjective

1. relating to small pox