leprosarium

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin leprōsārium, from leprōsus (“leprous”) + -ārium (“-ary: building related to”). Doublet of leprosery.

Noun

leprosarium (plural leprosariums or leprosaria)

1. An isolated building or community used to house lepers, usually in permanent quarantine from the rest of society.
   • 1971, José Barchilon, introduction to Madness & Civilization:

     In the middle of the twelfth century, France had more than 2,000 leprosariums

   • 1972, Don DeLillo, End Zone, page 58:

     "I don't understand it. We've been playing real well up to now." "We've been playing leprosariums and barber's colleges."

Usage notes

Although it is less common in general use than leper colony, medical and scholarly works often prefer the more clinical leprosarium. The location under discussion also influences English usage, with leprosaria more common in Spanish-speaking areas and leprosy village in Chinese ones.

Synonyms

• leprosaria, leprosy (obs.)

Hyponyms

• See leprosery (buildings) and leper colony (communities)

Translations

place used to house lepers — see leprosery,‎ leper colony

References

• “leprosarium, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022.