SCURVY (scurvier, scurviest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: scurvier    , scurviest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does scurvy mean? 

• SCURVY (noun)
  The noun SCURVY has 1 sense:

1. a condition caused by deficiency of ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

  Familiarity information: SCURVY used as a noun is very rare.

• SCURVY (adjective)
  The adjective SCURVY has 1 sense:

1. of the most contemptible kind

  Familiarity information: SCURVY used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SCURVY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A condition caused by deficiency of ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

scorbutus; scurvy

Hypernyms ("scurvy" is a kind of...):

avitaminosis; hypovitaminosis (any of several diseases caused by deficiency of one or more vitamins)

Derivation:

scorbutic (of or relating to or having or resembling scurvy)

• SCURVY (adjective)

Comparative: scurvier   
Superlative: scurviest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of the most contemptible kind

Synonyms:

abject; low; low-down; miserable; scummy; scurvy

Context example:

a scurvy trick

Similar:

contemptible (deserving of contempt or scorn)

 Context examples 

I wonder that a true knight, like our prince, should carry such a scurvy thing in his train.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The juice is used to flavor food and drink and to prevent scurvy.

(Lemon, NCI Dictionary)

It had played him a scurvy trick when it fashioned him into the thing he was, and it had played him scurvy tricks ever since.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He had before served me a scurvy trick, which set the queen a-laughing, although at the same time she was heartily vexed, and would have immediately cashiered him, if I had not been so generous as to intercede.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

“This is but scurvy conduct. Keep your hands off, or it will be the worse for you.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I near died of the scurvy and was rotten with it six months in Barbadoes.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)