sb. Forms: 4–5 synthoma, pl. syn-, sinthomata, 6 symptoma, 7 syntoma; 6–7 symptome (6 sinthom, syntone), 7 symtom(e, simptome, (syntome, sintum), 7– symptom. [In early use, in med.L. form synthoma, sinthoma, corrupt ff. late L. symptōma, a. Gr. σύμπτωμα chance, accident, mischance, disease, f. συμπίπτειν to fall together, fall upon, happen to (cf. πτῶμα fall, misfortune), f. σύν SYM- + πίπτειν to fall. In mod. use, ad. F. symptome, † sinthome, or directly ad. L. symptōma. Cf. It. sintomo, Sp. síntoma, Pg. symptoma.]
1. Path. A (bodily or mental) phenomenon, circumstance, or change of condition arising from and accompanying a disease or affection, and constituting an indication or evidence of it; a characteristic sign of some particular disease.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. ii. (1495), g j b/1. Yf the heed be corrupte & dystemperate wyth Synthoma of corrupcion of heed ache. Ibid., V. iii. g iij/2. Yf dryenesse [of brain] encreasyth wyth heete there … comyth worse Synthomata, euylles & syknesses.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 57. Oþer sinthomata i.[e.] perilez as scharp akyng and prikkyng, brynnyng, ychyng, smertyng.
1602. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., II. i. (Arb.), 21. I haue considered of the crasis, and syntoma of your disease.
1605. Daniel, Queen’s Arcadia, I. iv. We shall soone preuent this growing plague, Of pride, and folly, now that she discry The true symptoma of this maladie.
1541. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 A iij b. Those thynges are as symptomes and accydentes of the sayde vlceres, which yf they be present may hynder and let the curacion.
1562. Bullein, Bulwarke, Dial. Sorenes & Chir., 26. Alienacion of minde, with other sinthoms whiche in this case, are … signes of colde death.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits (1616), 180. Counting the damages which the feauer produceth, with those of the Syntones of the euill.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXI. xiii. II. 94. The symptomes or accidents that ensue upon the eating of this honey, are these. Ibid., XXIX. v. 362. That symtome of beeing afraid of water; which is incident unto such as be so bitten. Ibid. (1603), Plutarch’s Mor., 123. Swelling is a symptome or accident following upon a great wound or hurt in the flesh.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. III. viii. 429. Feare, sorrow, suspition, bashfulness and those other dread Symptomes of body and mind, must needs aggravate this misery.
1643. Baker, Chron., Edw. III., 170. If he had not fallen into Symptomes of a Dropsie.
1660. R. Coke, Justice Vind., 10. As when a Physitian from the symptoms of his indisposed Patient, endeavors to find out the causes of his distemper.
1692. Lond. Gaz., No. 2801/3. The Small-Pox being come out with all the good simptomes that could be wish’d.
a. 1700. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., IX. 345. She perceived in herself ye sintums of her neer aproching death.
1798. Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, iii. 81. Symptoms of fever appearing, he was removed.
1804. Abernethy, Surg. Obs., 175. His skin was hot, and his pulse strong. These symptoms could be attributed to … inflammation of the brain.
1846. Trench, Mirac., xxvii. (1862), 367. All the symptoms … exactly agree with those of epilepsy.
b. attrib.: symptom-complex, -group, a set of symptoms occurring together and characterizing or constituting a particular disease or affection.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., II. 865. Delirium tremens seems to have been first recognised as a symptom group, and separated from acute mania by Dr. Thomas Sutton … in 1813. Ibid., III. 70. The symptom-complex here presented is … unlike that of any other disease.
2. gen. A phenomenon or circumstance accompanying some condition, process, feeling, etc., and serving as evidence of it (orig. and properly of something evil); a sign or indication of something.
1611. B. Jonson, in Coryat’s Crudities, Charact. Auth. bj b. He free from all other Symptomes of aspiring, will easily outcary that.
1626. Prynne, Perpet. Regen. Man’s Est., Ep. Ded. It is a sure syntome, that iniquitie doth abound among vs.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 42. Furnisht with language, and many symptomes of education.
1641. Sir E. Nicholas, in N. Papers (Camden), I. 55. Jalousies and private devisions ware never good simptomes in a State.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, I. II. cx. Ill symtomes men descry In this thy Glaucis, though the nimble wench So dexterously can pray and prophecy.
1673. (title) The Character of a Coffee-House, with the Symptomes of a Town-Wit.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 13. The Morn appears, but with the Symptoms of a blowing Day.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., IV. Wks. 1813, V. 373. They observed many symptoms of a boundless ambition in that young prince.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. v. I. 455. The carrying trade is the natural effect and symptom of great national wealth.
1831. Scott, Ct. Rob., xvi. Nor was it long ere symptoms of his approach began to be heard.
1852. R. B. Mansfield, Log Water Lily, 12. The river … showed symptoms of rising.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xviii. IV. 120. Symptoms of discontent began to appear.
1871. R. W. Dale, Commandm., vii. 189. There are some symptoms in the general habits … of society which seem to me somewhat ominous.
b. With negative expressed or implied: A slight, or the least, sign of something; a trace, vestige.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., ix. 186. We perceive not the least symptom of cogitation or sense in our tables, chairs, &c.
a. 1797. H. Walpole, Mem. Geo. III. (1845), I. xi. 171. Europe could scarce amass the symptom of a fleet.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxviii. He … attempted to pass him … without any symptom of recognition.
1873. Tristram, Moab, vii. 27. Scarce a symptom of spring could as yet be seen.
¶ Misused for or confused with symbol. (Cf. SYMPTOMATIC ¶.)
a. 1687. Cotton, Poems, On Lord Derby, 32. Those Judges … Who, in the symptomes of thy ruin drest, Pronounc’t thy Sentence.
Hence Symptom v. trans. rare–1, to indicate as by a symptom; loosely, to symbolize.
1648. Earl of Westmorland, Otia Sacra (1879), 65. To dwell with Dust and Clay, Which Symptome may Mans Low condition.
