1. A person affected by leprosy.
2. One who is avoided by others.
It originates in Greek from the word lepros meaning scaly and lepis meaning scale. It also traveled through Late Latin from the word lepra, and made its way through Old French into Middle English with the word lepre.
I don't know which is worse, being a person who has leprosy or being an avoided person. I guess I rather be cast out than have a disease. It's a very harsh word to call someone. Even if the person didn't know what it meant, they would definitely get the feeling that it's not good and probably something icky.
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