vives
Obsolete / Extremely RareHistorical, Archaic, Specialized (Historical Veterinary Medicine)
Definition
Meaning
A historical term for a disease in horses, specifically an enlargement and inflammation of the parotid and submaxillary glands (the glands under the jaw and near the ears).
No modern extended meaning exists. The term is considered obsolete in contemporary English except in specific historical or veterinary historical contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is a plural noun but is treated as singular in terms of reference to the disease (e.g., 'The horse has the vives'). It is not used in modern veterinary practice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No contemporary difference. The term is equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Historical, pre-modern medical practice.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in both regions. May be encountered in historical novels or documents.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[horse] has the vivesto treat [horse] for vivesto be afflicted with vivesVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or history of veterinary science.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Obsolete in modern veterinary terminology.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In the 18th century, a horse with swollen glands under its jaw was said to have the vives.
- Old farming manuals often mentioned remedies for vives.
- The antiquarian text described the farrier's futile attempts to bleed the horse, believing it would draw out the humours causing the vives.
- While 'strangles' is the contemporary term, 'vives' appears consistently in equine medical treatises prior to the 19th century.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Vives' sounds like 'lives' – a horse's life was at risk from this old disease.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable for an obsolete term.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the Russian word 'вивес' (non-existent) or the Spanish 'vives' (alive). It has no cognate in modern Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a modern word.
- Using it as a singular noun without 'the' (e.g., 'a vives').
- Confusing it with 'vives' as a form of the verb 'to live'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the modern status of the word 'vives' in English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is an obsolete term and is not part of modern English vocabulary. You will only encounter it in very old texts.
No. Historically, it was only used as a noun referring to the disease.
The bacterial infection 'strangles' in horses shares some symptoms, but they are not medically identical. 'Vives' is an historical diagnostic category.
It is pronounced /vaɪvz/, rhyming with 'hives' or 'lives' (as in 'he lives').