disp. n. an acute infectious bacterial disease with inflammation of a mucous membrane esp. of the throat, resulting in the formation of a false membrane causing difficulty in breathing and swallowing.
Derivatives:
diphtherial adj. diphtheric adj. diphtheritic adj. diphtheroid adj.
Etymology: mod.L f. F diphth{eacute}rie, earlier diphth{eacute}rite f. Gk diphthera skin, hide