His double burden did him sore disease. --Spenser.
2. To derange the vital functions of; to afflict with disease
or sickness; to disorder; -- used almost exclusively in
the participle diseased.
He was diseased in body and mind. --Macaulay.
So all that night they passed in great disease.
--Spenser.
To shield thee from diseases of the world. --Shak.
2. An alteration in the state of the body or of some of its
organs, interrupting or disturbing the performance of the
vital functions, and causing or threatening pain and
weakness; malady; affection; illness; sickness; disorder;
-- applied figuratively to the mind, to the moral
character and habits, to institutions, the state, etc.
Diseases desperate grown, By desperate appliances
are relieved. --Shak.
The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced
into the public counsels have, in truth, been the
mortal diseases under which popular governments have
every where perished. --Madison.
{Disease germ}. See under {Germ}.
Syn: Distemper; ailing; ailment; malady; disorder; sickness;
illness; complaint; indisposition; affection. --
{Disease}, {Disorder}, {Distemper}, {Malady},
{Affection}. Disease is the leading medical term.
Disorder mean? much the same, with perhaps some slight
reference to an irregularity of the system. Distemper is
now used by physicians only of the diseases of animals.
Malady is not a medical term, and is less used than
formerly in literature. Affection has special reference
to the part, organ, or function disturbed; as, his
disease is an affection of the lungs. A disease is
usually deep-seated and permanent, or at least
prolonged; a disorder is often slight, partial, and
temporary; malady has less of a technical sense than the
other terms, and refers more especially to the suffering
endured. In a figurative sense we speak of a disease
mind, of disordered faculties, and of mental maladies.