Abscesses

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Abscess \Ab"scess\ ([a^]b"s[e^]s), n.; pl. {Abscesses}
     ([a^]b"s[e^]s*[e^]z). [L. abscessus a going away, gathering
     of humors, abscess, fr. abscessus, p. p. of absedere to go
     away; ab, abs + cedere to go off, retire. See {Cede}.] (Med.)
     A collection of pus or purulent matter in any tissue or organ
     of the body caused by infection.


     [1913 Webster + AS]
  
     {Cold abscess},
     (a) an abscess of slow formation, unattended with the pain
         and heat characteristic of ordinary abscesses, and
         lasting for years without exhibiting any tendency towards
         healing; a chronic abscess. AS
     (b) an abscess produced by tubercle bacilli, called also
         {tuberculous abscess}. --AS
         [1913 Webster + AS]