Dictionary entry

Gangrene

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Gan″grene (?), n. [F. gangrène, L. gangraena, fr. Gr. �, fr. � to gnaw, eat; cf. Skr. gras, gar, to devour, and E. voracious, also canker, n., in sense 3.] (Med.) A term formerly restricted to mortification of the soft tissues which has not advanced so far as to produce complete loss of vitality; but now applied to mortification of the soft parts in any stage.