n, pl  -sies  :  a chronic disease caused by infection with an acid-fast bacillus of the genus Mycobacterium (M. leprae) and characterized by the formation of nodules on the surface of the body and esp. on the face or by the appearance of tuberculoid macules on the skin that enlarge and spread and are accompanied by loss of sensation followed sooner or later in both types if not treated by involvement of nerves with eventual paralysis, wasting of muscle, and production of deformities and mutilations - called also hansenosis , Hansen's disease , lepra  - see LEPROMATOUS LEPROSY TUBERCULOID LEPROSY  .
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  lep·rous 
 
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