Virulent

a. Also 5 verelent, 6 vyrulent. [ad. L. vīrulentus poisonous, f. vīrus VIRUS. So OF. and F. virulent, It., Sp. and Pg. virulento.]

  1.  Med. † a. Of wounds or ulcers: Characterized by the presence of corrupt or poisonous matter. Obs. (passing into next).

c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 77, marg. Off olde verelent woundes. Ibid., 80. If þe vlcus be virulent, þat is to seie venemi, loke if þat þe venym þat goiþ out be redisch or ȝelowisch.

1541.  R. Copland, Guydon’s Form., R iv. The gouernall accomplysshynge the entencyon after the vlceracyon is to drye the rottenesse that is thycke and flesshy, blody, and vyrulent.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, 28. Chamaepitys … layd upon great woundes, and virulent … healeth the same.

1600.  Surflet, Countrie Farme, II. xlii. 266. A certaine person, well knowen vnto me, hauing a virulent vlcer, in manner of a Polipus in his nostrils.

1728.  Chambers, Cycl., Ulcers are … Virulent, which instead of Pus, or Sanies, yield a malignant Virus, &c.

  b.  Of diseases, etc.: Characterized by extreme malignancy or violence.

1563.  T. Gale, Antidot., 22 b. Yf the desease be malygne or Virulent,… put in more of the Argentum Viuum.

1694.  Salmon, Bate’s Dispens. (1713), 28/1. It may be us’d … in the Cure of virulent Gonorrhœa’s.

1748.  Anson’s Voy., I. x. 102. The scars of wounds which had been for many years healed, were forced open again by this virulent distemper.

1799.  Med. Jrnl., I. 203. They deny that the contagion has become more frequent … while the disease itself has thus been rendered less virulent and fatal.

1866.  Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. iv. 66. Scurvy in its most virulent form, and leprosy, were common disorders.

1871.  Tyndall, Fragm. Sci. (1879), I. v. 178. Germs … which may be pushed by foul air into virulent energy of reproduction.

  transf.  1860.  Emerson, Cond. Life, Fate, Wks. (Bohn), II. 327. I find the like unity in human structures rather virulent and pervasive.

1865.  Merivale, Rom. Emp., lxv. VIII. 170. A virulent insurrection was still glowing throughout a large portion of the empire.

1871.  Tyndall, Fragm. Sci. (1879), II. xiii. 299. There is often a virulent contagion in a confident tone.

  2.  Of serpents, material substances, plants, etc.: Possessing venomous or strongly poisonous qualities; highly injurious or fatal to life; extremely noxious.

1577.  Stanyhurst, Descr. Irel., 7/2. in Holinshed, II. Ireland bred no snake before S. Patrick was borne: ergo, it engendered no toade, no Adder, no Frogge, nor any other virulent worme.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 196. They giue the too forward maydens a virulent potion.

1657.  W. Coles, Adam in Eden, c. The Viper and all other virulent Creatures whatever.

1671.  R. Bohun, Wind, 132. Herbs or mineralls, with Virulent, and Deleterious Qualities.

1807.  J. E. Smith, Phys. Bot., 216. How the same soil … should in a leaf of the vine or sorrel produce a wholesome acid, and in that of a spurge or manchineel a most virulent poison.

1839.  Carlyle, Chartism, i. (1858), 4. While the virulent humour festers deep within, poisoning the sources of life.

1877.  F. T. Roberts, Handbk. Med. (ed. 3), I. 8. In certain cases it contains specific agents in the causation of disease, and promotes their development or renders them more virulent.

  fig.  1894.  P. Pinkerton, Adriatica, 6, On Asolan Hills, 1.

  † b.  Potent, powerful, effective. Obs.^–1

1599.  A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 2/2. A very excellent water for the payne of the heade…. It wilbe very good and virulent for the heade.

  c.  Obnoxiously violent or strong. nonce-use.

1771.  Smollett, Humph. Cl., To Sir W. Phillips, 6 May. Nay, I am convinced that she has likewise a most virulent attachment to his person; though her love never shows itself but in the shape of discontent.

  3.  fig. Violently bitter, spiteful or malignant; full of acrimony or enmity: a. Of action or feeling.

1607.  Hieron, Wks., I. 325. Where hee rules, there is a rancourous heart and a rayling tongue, there malicious and virulent courses cannot bee wanting.

1632.  Massinger, Maid of Hon., III. iii. I bring you … the sting Of virulent malice, festering your fair name, Plucked out and trod on.

1726.  Dk. Wharton, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. IV. 339. Every virulent vote, every passionate reproach … are so many real commendations of my conduct.

1769.  Junius Lett., xv. (1788), 89. The virulent exaggeration of party must be employed, to rouse … the passions of the people.

1815.  W. H. Ireland, Scribbleomania, 98. On my head I may draw down your virulent spite.

1855.  Brewster, Newton, II. xviii. 165. We have failed, like Mr. Baily, to discover the ground of Flamsteed’s virulent antipathy to Halley.

1867.  ‘Ouida,’ C. Castlemaine’s Gage, 1. She was hated by Whig beauties with virulent wrath.

  b.  Of speech or writing.

1631.  Star Chamb. Cases (Camden), 29. He is greatly faulty in his virulent termes and charging the same upon my Lord Falkland.

1689.  Wood, Life (O.H.S.), III. 313. A virulent pamphlet … wherein he foolishly reflected on King William.

1713.  Steele, Englishm., No. 15. 101. It is impossible … to escape the virulent Pen of that Rascal the Examiner.

1777.  Priestley, Disc. Philos. Necess., 172. Your virulent censures of myself … are abundantly too severe.

1840.  Macaulay, Ess., Clive (1851), II. 526. The meetings were large, stormy, even riotous, the debates indecently virulent.

1868.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. App. 540. He stops twice in the course of his history to apostrophize … Harold … in terms of virulent abuse.

  c.  Of persons, their dispositions, etc.

1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 215. Let him take heed of striking his wife, said another, or to be virulent in termes against her.

1647.  Clarendon, Contempl. Ps., Tracts (1727), 472. Let the virulent tongues of ill men traduce us with what calumnies they please.

1693.  J. Edwards, Author. O. & N. Test., 150. (Appion), a virulent writer against the Jews.

1714.  Swift, Pres. St. Aff., Wks. 1841, I. 495. Since the virulent opposers of the queen … have so far prevailed … as to make [etc.].

1792.  Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), II. 227. His enemies here are as virulent as ever.

1833.  I. Taylor, Fanat., i. 3. The deluded religionist, even when virulent in an extreme degree.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiii. III. 276. He had since disgusted some virulent fanatics by his humanity and moderation.

1883.  F. M. Peard, Contrad., I. 42. I am glad you don’t consider me very virulent.

  Hence Virulent v. trans., to render virulent.

1661.  Feltham, Resolves (ed. 8), II. lvi. 301. They say, Certain spirits virulented from the inward humor, darted on the object, convey a Venom where they point and fix.