Miasma (noun)
my-az-ma
a poisonous cloud of vapor produced by decaying organic matter.
Miasma derives from Ancient Greek míasma, meaning “pollution, stain.” The mías- element comes from the verb miaínein, “to pollute, stain,” while -ma is a common suffix that also appears in eczema, enigma, and stigma. Miasma was first recorded in English around 1660.
Example sentences
“The miasma from the swamp caught in his throat.”
Praetorian (adj) (noun) pri-taw-ree-un of or relating to a praetor (a magistrate in the Roman republic). a soldier of the Praetorian Guard (Roman imperial army) First recorded in 1375–1425; late…
