leprous

UK: /ˈlɛprəs/ US: (lep′rəs)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

lep•rous  (lep′rəs), adj. 

1. Pathology affected with leprosy.
2. Pathology of or resembling leprosy.
3. Botany, Zoology covered with scales.

• Late Latin leprōsus. See leper, -ous
• Middle English 1175–1225

lep′rous•ly, adv. 
lep′rous•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

leprous / ˈlɛprəs/ adjective

1. having leprosy
2. relating to or resembling leprosy

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French, from Late Latin leprosus, from lepra leper

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

lep•ro•sy /ˈlɛprəsi/   n. [uncountable]

1. Pathology an infectious disease in which the skin and tissue of the body is destroyed and there is a loss of sensation.

lep•rous, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

lep•ro•sy  (lep′rə sē), n. [Pathol.]

1. Pathology a chronic, mildly infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affecting the peripheral nervous system, skin, and nasal mucosa and variously characterized by ulcerations, tubercular nodules, and loss of sensation that sometimes leads to traumatic amputation of the anesthetized part. Also called Hansen's disease. 

• Greek léprōs(is) leprosy + -ia -y³
• Medieval Latin leprōsia (recorded only as synonym for leprosarium)
• 1525–35; perh.

lep•rot•ic  (le prot′ik), adj.