corp-, corpor-, corpus-

An abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual's ideal body weight which is associated with an increased risk of illness, disability, and death: Corpulency has become a serious problem in many countries because there are more and more people who are dangerously overweight.

Although the following cartoons are adjectives, they illustrate this noun entry.

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1. Descriptive of someone who is very overweight and so it refers to someone who has a very large and plump body: A corpulent person usually has an obesity that can be dangerous to his or her well-being.

As a very corpulent person, Effie was just too heavy for the motorboat that her husband was trying to navigate on the lake.

2. A formal word that describes an overweight person: If anyone is trying to be respectful when describing a fat man, he or she might refer to him as a corpulent gentleman. © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
for a list of additional Mickey Bach illustrations.

An example of someone who is very fat or over weight: After overeating for some weeks, Athena who was a skinny girl became corpulently bigger and heavier than other girls of her age.

The condition of having a large bulky or overweight body: Jimmy was accused of having a physical corpulentness or of being very chubby; especially, for someone who is only 10 years old.

1. A collection of written texts, including the entire works of a particular author or a body of writing on a particular subject: The editor was reviewing Harry's corpus to see if his linguistic structures needed revisions before it would be published.
2. In anatomy, the main body or part of a structure in the body.

A broad band of nerve fibers that join the two hemispheres or the left and right parts of the brain.

1. The body of Christ: A feast of the Roman Catholic Church commemorating the Eucharist and observed on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
2. Etymology: Latin, literally, "Body of Christ".

Corpus Christi from Latin: The "Body of Christ" is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas.

The facts and circumstances consisting of proof or evidence that a criminal act has been committed before anyone can be accused of a crime.

Body of law or a compilation of laws; or the assembled laws, of a nation, state, etc.: The collected laws of a nation, state, or city are its corpus iuris.

Church law is corpus iuris canonici while civil law is corpus iuris civilis.

1. A small independent body; especially, a cell in blood or lymph.
2. A discrete particle, especially a photon.
3. A tiny piece of anything.
4. Etymology: from Latin corpusculum, "small body".

1. Pertaining to, or composed of unattached body cells, such as blood or lymph cells: A corpuscular cell is a very small body or element in an organism; especially, red or white cells in the blood of vertebrates.
2. A reference to rounded globular masses of cells; such as, the pressure receptors on certain nerve endings.

1. A small bouquet of flowers worn on a woman's dress or worn around her wrist to some formal occasion: Corsages were originally thought to be bring luck or to ward off evil spirits; however, it has become a customary practice and a demonstration of affection by a woman's companion.
cors, "body" and from Latin corpus, "body".

1. A woman's under garment and brassière.
2. Etymology: from Old French corslet which came from Latin, cors, "body".

1. A woman's tightly fitting undergarment extending from below the chest to the hips, worn to shape the physical figure.
2. Etymology: from Latin corpus, "body".