Definition of "rheumatism" []

• Any of several pathological conditions of the muscles, tendons, joints, bones, or nerves, characterized by discomfort and disability. (noun)
• Rheumatoid arthritis. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The attitude of the most careful and experienced physicians and broad-minded bacteriologists may be roughly summed up in the statement that acute rheumatism is probably due to some germ or germs, but that the question is still open which particular germ is at fault, and even whether the group of symptoms which we call rheumatism may not possibly be produced by a number of different organisms, acting upon a particular type of constitution or susceptibility."
• "-- Watch this, Miss Judson, and I'll wager this form of rheumatism is new to you."
• "Much that I do, when the rheumatism is not maddening my fingers, I sell."