canker, atrophy, COME TO

If a new spirit is to be infused into this old country, there is one thorny and contentious reform which must be tackled, and that is the humanization and galvanization of the B.B.C. Timidity here will bespeak canker and atrophy of the soul. 

Ideologues in state capitols are wasting little time when it comes to enacting an extreme agenda, but local activists are pushing back.


Conservatives May Control State Governments, But Progressives Are Rising
BILLMOYERS.COM

Byron, meditating on mortality, no doubt.

’Tis time this heart should be unmoved,
     Since others it has ceased to move:
Yet, though I cannot be beloved,
               Still let me love!

My days are in the yellow leaf;
     The flowers and fruits of Love are gone;
The worm—the canker, and the grief
               Are mine alone!

Line breaks: at¦ro|phy

Pronunciation: /ˈatrəfi

  

/

Definition of atrophy in English:

VERB (atrophies, atrophying, atrophied)

[NO OBJECT]

1(Of body tissue or an organ) waste away, especially as a result of the degeneration of cells, or becomevestigial during evolution:the calf muscles will atrophy(as adjective atrophied) in some beetles, thehindwings are atrophied

2Gradually decline in effectiveness or vigour due tounderuse or neglect:the imagination can atrophy from lack of use

NOUN

[MASS NOUN]Back to top  

The process of atrophying or state of having atrophied:gastric atrophyextensive TV viewing may lead to atrophy ofchildren’s imaginations

Origin

late 16th century: from French atrophier (verb), atrophie(noun), from late Latin atrophia, from Greek, 'lack of food', from a- 'without' + trophē 'food'.

 canker
 Line breaks: can¦ker

Pronunciation: /ˈkaŋkə /

Definition of canker in English:

NOUN

[MASS NOUN]

1A destructive fungal disease of apple and other trees that results in damage to the bark:cut out lesions on branches caused by canker

MORE EXAMPLE SENTENCES

1.1[COUNT NOUN] An open lesion in plant tissue causedby infection or injury:check trees for cankers

MORE EXAMPLE SENTENCES

1.2Fungal rot in some fruits and vegetables, e.g.parsnips and tomatoes:canker is this crop’s arch enemy

2An ulcerous condition or disease of a human oranimal, in particular:

2.1(also canker sore) North American A small ulcerof the mouth or lips:a remedy for canker sores

MORE EXAMPLE SENTENCES

2.2another term for thrush² (sense 2).

2.3Ulceration of the throat and other orifices of birds, typically caused by a protozoal infection:secondary infections of canker and coccidiosis

2.4Inflammation of the ear of a dog, cat, or rabbit, typically caused by a mite infestation.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

3A malign and corrupting influence that is difficult toeradicate:[IN SINGULAR]: racism remains a canker at the heart of the nation

MORE EXAMPLE SENTENCESSYNONYMS

VERB

Back to top  

1[NO OBJECT] (Of woody plant tissue) become infectedwith canker:(as noun cankering) we found some cankering of the wood

MORE EXAMPLE SENTENCES

2(as adjective cankered) Infected with a pervasive andcorrupting bitterness:he hated her with a cankered, shameful abhorrence

MORE EXAMPLE SENTENCES

Origin

Middle English (denoting a tumour): from Old Frenchchancre, from Latin cancer 'crab' (see cancer).

Definition of come to in English:

1(also come to oneself) Recover consciousness:I came to in a corner of the roomhe was struggling to come to himself

2(Of an expense) reach in total; amount to:the bill came to £20,000

3(Of a ship) come to a stop.