effluvium

[ih-floo-vee-uh m]

See more synonyms for effluvium on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural ef·flu·vi·a

[ih-floo-vee-uh] /ɪˈflu vi ə/, ef·flu·vi·ums.

a slight or invisible exhalation or vapor, especially one that is disagreeable or noxious.

Origin of effluvium

1640–50; < Latin, equivalent to ef- ef- + fluv-, base of fluere to flow (see effluent) + -ium -ium

Related formsef·flu·vi·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for effluvium

exhaust, odor, vapor, smell, exhalation

Examples from the Web for effluvium

Historical Examples of effluvium

I am inclined to think, that this effluvium is not altogether an imaginary phenomenon.
Metapsychical Phenomena
J. Maxwell
Some people give forth an effluvium, which is more visible than that of others.
Metapsychical Phenomena
J. Maxwell
There is an optima distance for the realisation of this effluvium.
Metapsychical Phenomena
J. Maxwell
The effluvium is visible under other conditions, which are worth noting.
Metapsychical Phenomena
J. Maxwell
Some consider also that we inhale the effluvium arising from it, which has the like effect.
William Clayton's Journal
William Clayton

British Dictionary definitions for effluvium

effluvium

noun plural -via (-vɪə) or -viums

an unpleasant smell or exhalation, as of gaseous waste or decaying matter

Derived Formseffluvial, adjective

Word Origin for effluvium

C17: from Latin: a flowing out; see effluent

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for effluvium

1640s, from Latin effluvium "a flowing out," from effluere (see effluence).

effluvium in Medicine

effluvium

[ĭ-flōō′vē-əm]

n. pl. ef•flu•vi•ums

A shedding, especially of hair.
An exhalation, especially one of bad odor or injurious influence. No longer in technical use.