a. Now rare. [f. L. tæter offensive, foul + -OUS.] Offensive, foul. Sometimes from contiguity of form and sense confused with TETTEROUS: so in quot. 1890.
1637. Brian, Pisse-proph. (1679), 133. Your heart and head are assaulted with a tetrous vapour, so that you are melancholick and cannot take your rest.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva (1776), 411. The Decoction [of Elder buds] is admirable to assuage inflammations and tetrous humours and especially the Scorbutis.
1770. D. Monro, Treat. Min Waters, I. 252–3. It [Hartfell water] has been used with advantage in curing itchy hot tetrous eruptions and old sores, when applied externally.
1890. A. W. Tourgee, in Chicago Advance, 27 March. A leper whose tetrous spots threaten every soul that looks upon them.
