disease

n. [ OE. disese, OF. desaise; des- (L. dis-) + aise ease. See Ease. ] 1. Lack of ease; uneasiness; trouble; vexation; disquiet. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

So all that night they passed in great disease. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

To shield thee from diseases of the world. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Diseases desperate grown,
By desperate appliances are relieved. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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&unr_; 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. [ 1913 Webster ]