leper
UK: ˈlepə | US: ˈlepər
n. a person affected with leprosy
n. (figuratively) an outcast or someone shunned by society
The word "leper" originates from Late Latin leprosus, derived from Greek leprā (λεπρά), meaning "scaly" or "scabby," referring to the skin lesions caused by leprosy. The suffix "-er" (via Old French -ier) denotes a person associated with the condition. Historically, lepers were isolated due to the contagious and stigmatized nature of the disease, leading to the figurative sense of societal exclusion.
In medieval times, a leper was often forced to live outside the village.
The novel depicts the protagonist as a social leper, rejected by his community.
Modern medicine has reduced the stigma once attached to lepers.
The colony provided shelter for lepers who had nowhere else to go.
His controversial opinions made him a political leper among his peers.