softening of the brain
Americannoun
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a softening of the cerebrum, caused by impairment of the blood supply; encephalomalacia.
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Informal. dementia associated with general paresis.
noun
Etymology
Origin of softening of the brain
First recorded in 1825–35
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The death rate is 89.4 per 100,000, substantially that of nephritis, 90.1, and cerebral hemorrhage and softening of the brain, 90.4; all diseases of middle and advanced age.
From Time Magazine Archive
All had softening of the brain, all were paralytic.
From Time Magazine Archive
He dutifully went under canvas with his pugnacious battalion, but he was pretty much of a failure, declined into rose pruning, and died after a sad "softening of the brain."
From Time Magazine Archive
He emphasises far too much the neuropathic element, and revels in the repulsive symptoms of incipient softening of the brain.
From Oscar Wilde by Ingleby, Leonard Cresswell
General paresis or softening of the brain is probably invariably preceded by syphilis.
From Being Well-Born An Introduction to Eugenics by Guyer, Michael F.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
