cankering

can·ker

C c

Definitions of cankering word

noun cankering a gangrenous or ulcerous sore, especially in the mouth. 1
noun cankering a disease affecting horses' feet, usually the soles, characterized by a foul-smelling exudate. 1
noun cankering a defined area of diseased tissue, especially in woody stems. 1
noun cankering something that corrodes, corrupts, destroys, or irritates. 1
noun cankering Also called canker rose. British Dialect. dog rose. 1
verb with object cankering to infect with canker. 1

before 1000

One of the 6% oldest English words

before 1000; Middle English; Old English cancer < Latin cancer; see cancer

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 90% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer