cholera
In a medical context, this term describes a severe bacterial infection. It carries a connotation of urgency and crisis, often associated with poor sanitation, epidemics, and rapid dehydration. It is treated as a mass noun when referring to the disease in general, though it can be used countably when discussing specific outbreaks or strains.
When used to describe a person's temperament, the word functions as a synonym for irritability or a quick temper. This usage is rare in modern English and appears primarily in historical literature or archaic texts to characterize someone as volatile or prone to sudden outbursts of rage.
Meanings
An acute infectious disease of the small intestine caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, characterized by severe watery diarrhea and vomiting.
The health organization worked tirelessly to contain the cholera outbreak in the refugee camp.
A state of extreme anger or irritability, often used in a figurative or archaic sense to describe a volatile temperament.
He was known for his cholera, frequently erupting into fits of rage over the smallest inconveniences.