MORBUS SACER Meaning and
Definition
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Morbus sacer is a Latin term that literally translates to "sacred disease" in English. It refers to a concept originating in ancient Greek and Roman societies, particularly in the medical field.
In the context of ancient civilizations, morbus sacer was used to describe diseases or conditions that were considered sacred or supernatural in nature. These diseases were believed to be caused by divine punishment or spiritual afflictions, rather than solely attributed to natural or physiological factors.
Morbus sacer was not a specific medical diagnosis but rather a term used to categorize certain illnesses with a spiritual or religious significance. Examples of conditions that may have been classified as morbus sacer include epileptic seizures, mental disorders, and certain infectious diseases.
The belief in morbus sacer reflected the limited understanding of biological causes of diseases in ancient times, leading individuals to attribute certain illnesses to divine intervention or curses. Consequently, individuals afflicted with these conditions were often stigmatized or excluded from society.
Modern medicine and scientific advancements have significantly transformed our understanding of diseases, resulting in the abandonment of the concept of morbus sacer. However, the term continues to be used in historical and cultural contexts to describe the ancient beliefs and conceptualizations of disease prevalent in classical civilizations.
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Sacred disease, epilepsy.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MORBUS SACER
- norbus sacer
- korbus sacer
- jorbus sacer
- mirbus sacer
- mkrbus sacer
- mlrbus sacer
- mprbus sacer
- m0rbus sacer
- m9rbus sacer
- moebus sacer
- modbus sacer
- mofbus sacer
- motbus sacer
- mo5bus sacer
- mo4bus sacer
- morvus sacer
- mornus sacer
- morhus sacer
- morgus sacer
- morbys sacer
Etymology of MORBUS SACER
The term "morbus sacer" is a Latin phrase that translates to "sacred disease" in English.
The word "morbus" comes from the Latin noun "morbus", which means "sickness" or "disease". It is believed to be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*mer-", which conveys the idea of "wasting away" or "to die". This root has also given rise to words like "mortal" and "mortuary".
The word "sacer" means "sacred" or "holy" in Latin. It originates from the Proto-Indo-European root "*sak-", which means "to sanctify" or "to make holy". This root has also led to words like "sacrifice" and "sacrament" in English.
