effluvium
noun
An unpleasant or harmful odor, secretion, or discharge; invisible emanation, especially when noxious. Often used in plural form "effluvia."
Etymology
From Latin "effluvium" (a flowing out), from "effluere" (to flow out), from "ex" (out) + "fluere" (to flow). The word emphasizes unpleasant outflows.
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The effluvium from the factory polluted the entire neighborhood."
- 2.
"Swamps were once thought to produce effluvia that caused disease."
- 3.
"The effluvium of the fish market was overwhelming in summer."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
Before germ theory, the "miasma theory" held that effluvia from rotting matter caused diseases like cholera and plague. While wrong about mechanism, the theory correctly linked disease to unsanitary conditions.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 9 letters (E, F, F, L, U, V, I, U, M)
Scrabble Value: 20 points
Tip: Words ending in "UM" are often good scoring opportunities.
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