noun
- Plural of greensickness; a historical medical condition, typically affecting young women, characterized by anemia, weakness, and a greenish complexion.
Usage: archaic; medical history; also called chlorosis
Examples
- Medieval physicians documented several cases of greensicknesses among adolescent girls in the village.
- The condition known as greensicknesses was thought to result from iron deficiency, though the cause was not understood at the time.
- Historical medical texts describe greensicknesses as a common affliction of young unmarried women.
- Greensicknesses gradually disappeared from medical literature as nutrition and healthcare improved in the 19th century.