canker

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a fungal disease of woody plants that causes localized damage to the bark
  2. noun an ulceration (especially of the lips or lining of the mouth)
  3. noun a pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of

Etymology

From Middle English canker, cancre, from Old English cancer (“cancer; crab”), akin to Dutch kanker, Old High German chanchar. Ultimately from Latin cancer (“a cancer”). Doublet of cancer, a later borrowing from Latin, and chancre, which came through French.

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