What is the Latin word for leprosy?

The usual Latin words for “leprosy” are lepra, scabiēs, elephantiasis; also tentō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“leprosy” in Latin

leprapsoriasis, similar skin disorders; leprosy scabiēsroughness, scurf; mildew; scab, mange, itch elephantiasiselephantiasis (a very virulent kind of leprosy)tentōto handle, touch; to try, test, tempt

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

leprosy

lepra (Plin.); scabies (Tac., Hist., 5, 4, 2; ☞ Hor., A.P., 453, scabies mala, which some understand of the leprosy); elephantiasis (a very bad kind of leprosy): to be afflicted with leprosy, lepra laborare, tentari: to cure the leprosy, lepram emendare (Plin.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for leprosy?: The usual Latin words for “leprosy” are lepra, scabiēs, elephantiasis; also tentō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.