1. abscesses or infected swellings containing pus
Usage: archaic; medical

Examples

• The physician drained the painful impostumes that had formed on the patient’s arm.
• Medieval texts describe various remedies for treating impostumes.
• The surgeon carefully examined the impostumes before deciding on treatment.
• Ancient medical practices often involved lancing impostumes to release infection.
• The herbalist prepared poultices to draw out the impostumes naturally.