English Lexicon

Effluvium

/əˈfluː.vi.əm/
nounCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #14500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    An unpleasant or noxious odor, smell, or vapor given off by something.

    "The old basement was filled with the dank effluvium of mold and stagnant water."
  2. 2

    A slight invisible emanation or vapor, especially one considered to be harmful.

    "In medical history, diseases were once thought to be spread by the effluvium of swamps."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Latin word 'effluvium', meaning an outflow or shedding, stemming from 'effluere' (to flow out, from ex- 'out' + fluere 'to flow'). It entered the English language in the 17th century originally to describe invisible emanations or exhalations, particularly noxious vapors or foul smells rising from decaying matter.

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