jaundice

Etymology

From Middle English jaundis, jaunis, from Middle French jaunisse, from jaune (“yellow”) + -isse (“-ice, '-ness'”). Jaune, from Old French jalne, from Latin galbinus (“yellowish”), from galbus (“yellow”).

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɔndɪs/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɔːndɪs/

Noun

jaundice (countable and uncountable, plural jaundices)

1. (pathology) A morbid condition, characterized by yellowness of the eyes, skin, and urine, whiteness of the feces, constipation, queasiness, loss of appetite, and general languor and lassitude. It is caused usually by obstruction of the biliary passage and consequent occlusion, in the liver, of the bile, which is then absorbed into the blood. Other causes include increased hemolysis and any liver disease. The discoloration is caused by accumulation of bilirubin in the body; bilirubin is normally excreted in bile to give feces their normal yellow-brown coloration.

Verb

jaundice (third-person singular simple present jaundices, present participle jaundicing, simple past and past participle jaundiced)

1. (transitive) To affect with jaundice; to color by prejudice or envy; to prejudice.
   • The envy of wealth jaundiced his soul. - Lord Lytton