cankerous Definition

canker
noun

1. A fungal, bacterial or viral disease of trees and woody shrubs, eg fruit trees, in which hardened tissue forms over sunken or cracked dead areas on the bark or near a wound.
2. Ulceration of the lips, mouth or tongue.
3. An ulcerous disease of animals that causes several conditions, eg inflammation and decay of the hooves of horses, inflammation of the ears of cats and dogs.
4. An evil, destructive influence, etc.

Derivative: cankerous
adj

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon cancer, from Latin cancer cancerous ulcer.