I. ˈkaŋkə(r), -ˈai- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English canker, cancre, from Old North French cancre & Old English cancer, from Latin cancer crab, cancer — more at cancer
1.
a. obsolete : a spreading sore that corrupts and eats away body tissues : gangrene
b. : canker sore
2. archaic : a caterpillar destructive of buds and leaves of plants
3. now dialect
a. : rust
b. : verdigris 3
4.
a. : an area of necrotic tissue in a woody stem or sometimes other plant organ caused by various agents (as fungi, bacteria, or toxic substances) and marked by shrinkage, cracking, and sloughing of tissue that leave an open wound surrounded by zones of callus often girdling and killing the affected stem
b. : powdery scab
c. : potato wart
5. : a center and source of spreading corruption, debasement, or enfeeblement
the metropolis was the canker of a continent and the wickedest city since Gomorrah — Herbert Asbury
6. now dialect : dog rose
7.
a. : an obstinate chronic inflammation of the ear in dogs, cats, or rabbits ; especially : a localized form of mange
b. : a chronic and progressive inflammation of the deep horn-producing tissues of the frog and sole of the hoofs of horses resulting in softening and destruction of the horny layers
c. : fowl pox
d. : pigeon trichomoniasis
II. verb
( cankered ; cankered ; cankering -k(ə)riŋ ; cankers )
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to infect with a spreading sore
2. now dialect : to corrode with rust
3. : to corrupt with a malignancy of mind or spirit
God help that country, cankered deep by doubt — Archibald MacLeish
cankered by a persecution complex
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to become rusty
2. : to become infested with canker
blighted stems often canker
3. : to undergo corruption and disintegration