a. Forms: 3–5 leprus, 3, 6–7 leperous, 4–5 leprows, -ros, -rys, 5 -rose, leperus, (? luprus), 5–6 leprouse, 6 leporous(e, lyporous(e, 7 leap(e)rous, 3– leprous. [a. OF. lepros, leprous (mod.F. lépreux), ad. late L. leprōsus, f. lepra leprosy.]
1. Afflicted or tainted with leprosy.
‘Simon leprous’ is a common ME. translation of Simon leprosus of the Vulgate (Matt. xxvi. 6, Mark xiv. 1) = ‘Simon the leper’ of the A. V.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 148. Moiseses hond … bisemede oðe spitelvuel, & þuhte leprus.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., 464/79. A man of þat contreye þat heiȝhte symond leperous.
1382. Wyclif, Lev. xiii. 46. Al tyme that he is leprows and vncleene.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4593. As þa þat lepros ere & lame.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 216 b/1. The hous of Symon leprous where as our lord dyned.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Kings v. Contents, Gehasi Eliseus seruaunt is made leporous.
1535. Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 25. All leprouse and pore beddred creatures.
1611. Bible, Exod. iv. 6. And when hee tooke it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snowe.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., VI. § 24. Leprous Egyptians, driven from their country on account of that loathsome distemper.
1876. Bristowe, Theory & Pract. Med. (1878), 275. The children of leprous parents are more likely to become affected [with leprosy] than are the children of healthy parents.
† b. Causing or inducing leprosy. Obs.
1542. Boorde, Dyetary, xvi. (1870), 271. Olde beefe … doth ingender melancolye and leporouse humoures.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. v. 64. And in the Porches of mine eares [he] did poure The leaperous Distilment.
c. Pertaining to, resembling, or accompanying, leprosy.
1635–56. Cowley, Davideis, II. 619. Leprous scurf o’re his whole body cast.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), II. 241. That the whiteness of the Negroe skin … might be called rather a leprous crust than a natural complexion.
1827–35. Willis, Leper, 125. The dull pulses … beat beneath the hot And leprous scales.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 669. Generating leprous eruptions and similar diseases.
1898. P. Manson, Trop. Diseases, xxvi. 421. Nerve stretching … has been strongly advocated … for the cure of leprous neuralgia.
d. fig.
1598. Dallington, Meth. Trav., B j b. Who so bringeth home a leprous soule and a tainted body.
1629. Milton, Nativity, 138. And leprous sin will melt from earthly mould.
1632. Sanderson, Serm., 493. The leaprous humour of Popery.
1697. Jos. Woodward, Rel. Soc. Lond., x. (1704), 176. Heal my leperous soul.
1796. Coleridge, Sonn., Thyself redeeming from that leprous stain Nobility.
1868. Farrar, Silence & V., iii. (1875), 65. Her literature … a leprous fiction which poisoned every virtue.
2. transf. Having a surface resembling the skin of a leper; covered with white scales. In Bot. = LEPROSE.
1620. Markham, Farew. Husb., xiii. 100. Myst and fog, which being naughty vapours, drawn from the infected parts of the earth, and falling vpon the corne, doe … make the graine leprous.
1820. Shelley, Sensit. Plant, III. 70. Spawn, weeds, and filth, a leprous scum.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 68. Its leprous leaves, superior fruit, and apetalous flowers, will at all times distinguish the Oleaster tribe. Ibid. (1839), Introd. Bot. (ed. 3), 470. Leprous…; covered with minute peltate scales.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, xxxi. One old leprous screen of faded Indian leather.
1842. G. Turnbull, in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, II. No. 10. 8. Where lichens make the trunks all leprous.
† b. Alchemy. Cf. LEPROSITY. Obs.
1605. Timme, Quersit., I. xiii. 58. The phylosophers haue the same [sc. lead] in great esteeme,… they cal it their sunne or leperous gold.
1660. trans. Paracelsus’ Archidoxis, I. IV. 38. The Quintessence of Gold is as to its Quantity, exceeding small; and the residue of it is a leprous body.
† 3. absol. (quasi-sb.) A leper. Obs.
c. 1250. Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 31. Swo kam a leprus, a sik man.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 129. This forsaid leprous was made hale.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 205. Þei ben … lemmans of foule sathanas þat is foulere þan ony mesel or leprous in þis world.
1464. Rolls of Parlt., V. 521/1. Certeyn Leprus of oure menialx Servauntez.
Hence Leprously adv., Leprousness.
1471. Ripley, Comp. Alch., VII. in Ashm. (1652), 170. Clensyng theyer Leprosenes.
1527. Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, B ij. The same water … preserveth the body from leprousnes.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, Pref. 6 b. Leprousnes and many other infectious sicknesses.
1607. Tourneur, Rev. Trag., IV. iv. How leprously That Office would haue cling’d unto your forehead.
1611. Cotgr., Lepreserie, leaprousnesse.
1883. Harriet Prescott Spofford, in Harper’s Mag., Aug., 464/1. His nose flattened against the pane of the narrow pantry window till it shone leprously white and blue.
