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choléra

cholera

noun koh-leh-RAH Rare

Origin: Greek kholera

Usage Note

Choléra is the waterborne bacterial disease caused by Vibrio cholerae; the accent marks it as a French adaptation of the Greek/Latin form. It historically devastated 19th-century France, and the word carries strong associations with epidemics and poor sanitation.

Examples

"Le choléra se transmet par l'eau contaminée."

Natural Translation

Cholera is transmitted through contaminated water.

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