Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Any of several disorders of porphyrin metabolism, usually hereditary, characterized by the presence of large amounts of porphyrins in the blood and urine.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun pathology Any of several usually hereditary abnormalities of
porphyrin metabolism characterized by excretion of excess porphyrins in the urine.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a genetic abnormality of metabolism causing abdominal pains and mental confusion
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word porphyria.
Examples
-
Another symptom of porphyria is an intolerance to sulfur in foods.
They're Alive: Real Scientific Reasons to Believe in Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies 2009
-
JULIA GNUSE: I have a skin disorder called porphyria, which is similar to lupus, but it is not a life-threatening disease.
-
Another syndrome that sometimes goes hand in hand with HCV is called porphyria cutanea tarda.
DR. SANJIV CHOPRA’S LIVER BOOK Sanjiv Chopra 2001
-
BATH, England—Although historians today think that he suffered from a hereditary blood disorder called porphyria, not madness, King George III's erratic behavior has always baffled and intrigued in equal measure.
The Witty Madness of David Haig's George III Is Fit for a King Elizabeth Fitzherbert 2011
-
Later he told me that one of the patients he sees has porphyria, which is a disease that could be the origins of the vampire myth.
Another Scene from the Home Front Amanda@Lady Scientist 2009
-
For decades, it's been relatively well accepted that the British monarch suffered from a metabolic disorder called porphyria, whose symptoms include abdominal discomfort and dark urine.
-
It seems likely that William was suffering from porphyria, which is an upset in metabolism resulting in inadequate utilization of chemicals known as porphyrins.
The Pawprints of History STANLEY COREN 2002
-
It seems likely that William was suffering from porphyria, which is an upset in metabolism resulting in inadequate utilization of chemicals known as porphyrins.
The Pawprints of History STANLEY COREN 2002
-
It seems likely that William was suffering from porphyria, which is an upset in metabolism resulting in inadequate utilization of chemicals known as porphyrins.
The Pawprints of History STANLEY COREN 2002
-
It seems likely that William was suffering from porphyria, which is an upset in metabolism resulting in inadequate utilization of chemicals known as porphyrins.
The Pawprints of History STANLEY COREN 2002
colleen commented on the word porphyria
The rain set early in tonight,
The sullen wind was soon awake,
It tore the elm-tops down for spite,
and did its worst to vex the lake:
I listened with heart fit to break.
When glided in Porphyria; straight
She shut the cold out and the storm,
And kneeled and made the cheerless grate
Blaze up, and all the cottage warm;
Which done, she rose, and from her form
Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl,
And laid her soiled gloves by, untied
Her hat and let the damp hair fall,
And, last, she sat down by my side
And called me. When no voice replied,
She put my arm about her waist,
And made her smooth white shoulder bare,
And all her yellow hair displaced,
And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,
And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair,
Murmuring how she loved me--she
Too weak, for all her heart's endeavor,
To set its struggling passion free
From pride, and vainer ties dissever,
And give herself to me forever.
But passion sometimes would prevail,
Nor could tonight's gay feast restrain
A sudden thought of one so pale
For love of her, and all in vain:
So, she was come through wind and rain.
Be sure I looked up at her eyes
Happy and proud; at last I knew
Porphyria worshiped me: surprise
Made my heart swell, and still it grew
While I debated what to do.
That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around,
And strangled her. No pain felt she;
I am quite sure she felt no pain.
As a shut bud that holds a bee,
I warily oped her lids: again
Laughed the blue eyes without a stain.
And I untightened next the tress
About her neck; her cheek once more
Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss:
I propped her head up as before
Only, this time my shoulder bore
Her head, which droops upon it still:
The smiling rosy little head,
So glad it has its utmost will,
That all it scorned at once is fled,
And I, its love, am gained instead!
Porphyria's love: she guessed not how
Her darling one wish would be heard.
And thus we sit together now,
And all night long we have not stirred,
And yet God has not said a word!
(Robert Browning)
September 22, 2007
sonofgroucho commented on the word porphyria
When I was a medical student we had a totally psychopathic Professor of Medicine who was an expert on porphyria.
September 22, 2007
reesetee commented on the word porphyria
Always was spooked by that poem....
SoG, maybe the professor had it himself? ;-) Wasn't George III thought by some to have had porphyria?
September 22, 2007
maire commented on the word porphyria
i'd like to marry you,your highness, but i can't porphyria might make me clean the purple toilet bowl.
November 1, 2007