Word of the Day

: March 22, 2009

recrudescence

noun ree-kroo-DESS-uns

What It Means

: a new outbreak after a period of abatement or inactivity : renewal

recrudescence in Context

"Unfortunately, we have recently had a recrudescence of one disease in particular: canine distemper." (Dr. Jacob Church, The Biloxi Sun Herald [Mississippi], April 17, 2008)

Did You Know?

"Recrudescence" derives from the Latin verb "recrudescere," meaning "to become raw again” (used, for example, of wounds). Ultimately, it can be traced back to the Latin word for "raw," which is "crudus." (If you suspect that "crude" is also derived from "crudus," you are correct; another well-known descendant is "cruel.") In its literal sense, "recrudescence" is a medical word denoting a renewed outbreak of a disease. In extended use, it most often describes the return of an undesirable condition, such as a war or a plague, or the return of an undesirable idea.