Choleriform is a term used to describe a disease that resembles cholera. The spelling of this term comes from the combination of two Greek roots - "cholera" meaning "bile" and "form" meaning "shape" or "form." The correct pronunciation is [koh-luh-ruh-fawrm], with stress on the second syllable. The "ch" is pronounced as [k], as in the word "cat," followed by the vowel sound [oh]. The second syllable is pronounced with the vowel sound [uh] followed by [ruh], and the last syllable ends with the consonant sound [m].
Choleriform is an adjective derived from the term "cholera," a highly infectious and often fatal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It describes something that resembles or imitates the symptoms or characteristics of cholera.
In a medical context, choleriform is used to refer to symptoms or conditions that are similar to those seen in cholera. These may include severe diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and abdominal pain. Choleriform symptoms can be caused by other infectious agents or toxins, apart from the cholera bacterium itself.
Outside of medicine, choleriform can be used metaphorically to describe something that exhibits the same extreme or intense characteristics as cholera. For example, one might describe a heated argument or heated discussion as choleriform due to the intensity and aggression involved.
The term choleriform can also be applied to objects or phenomena that resemble or evoke the appearance or qualities associated with cholera. This could include the appearance of contaminated or discolored water, foul smells, or a general air of sickness or filth.
Overall, choleriform implies the presence of characteristics, symptoms, or qualities that mimic or imitate cholera, whether in a medical, metaphorical, or visual sense.
Resembling cholera, choleroid.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "choleriform" is derived from two main components: "cholera" and "form".
- "Cholera" traces back to ancient Greek, where the word "kholéra" (χολέρα) meant "flow of bile". This term later came to refer specifically to a disease characterized by severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration caused by infection with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The Greek word itself originated from the Indo-European root *ghel-, which meant "to shine" or "yellow". The connection between the disease and the color yellow is due to the symptoms of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) that can occur in severe cases.
- "Form" derives from the Latin word "forma", which means "shape", "appearance", or "form". It is often used as a suffix to indicate a particular shape or form.