impostume

English

Alternative forms

• imposthume

Etymology

From Old French empostume, alteration of apostume (“apostume, large abscess”), from Latin apostema, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστεμα (apóstema, “separation of pus into an abscess”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɪmˈpɒstjuːm/

Noun

impostume (plural impostumes)

1. (obsolete) An abscess.
   • 1603, [Thomas Dekker], 1603. The Wonderfull Yeare. […], London: […] by [J. Browne, Nicholas Ling, and John Smethwick for?] Thomas Creede, […], →OCLC, signature B3, recto:

     The great impoſtume of the realme vvas dravvne / Euen to a head: the multitudinous ſpavvne / VVas the corruption, vvhich did make it ſvvell / VVith hop'd ſedition (the burnt ſeed of hell.)

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, translated by John Florio, The Essayes […], London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     Jaſon Phereus [Jason of Pherae] [was] utterly forſaken of all Phyſitians, by reaſon of an impoſtume he had in his breaſt […]

Verb

impostume (third-person singular simple present impostumes, present participle impostuming, simple past and past participle impostumed)

1. (obsolete) Alternative form of imposthume.