anthrax
UK[ˈænθræks]US[ˈænθræks]
n
a serious disease of cattle and sheep, caused by bacteria, that can be passed to humans
n
the bacterium that causes the disease anthrax
Morpheme Breakdown
anthrax
anthrax
unsegmentable
Etymology
the word anthrax entered english in the late 14th century via latin from the ancient greek word 'anthrax', meaning 'coal, charcoal'. the greek term was applied to the disease because of the characteristic black, coal-like skin eschar that forms in the cutaneous form of the infection. this is a classic example of a descriptive medical term where the physical appearance of a symptom gave its name to the entire disease. the semantic shift from 'coal' to a specific, severe disease illustrates how ancient physicians used vivid, observable characteristics to classify illnesses.
Analysis
Structure: anthrax (unsegmentable)
the word is a simplex loanword from greek. it does not contain separable morphemes in its modern english spelling.
Examples
the farm was quarantined after an outbreak of anthrax.
anthrax spores can remain dormant in the soil for many years.
laboratory workers must take precautions when handling anthrax bacteria.