rheumatic

Etymology

From Middle French rheumatique, from Latin rheumaticus, from Ancient Greek ῥευματικός (rheumatikós), from ῥεῦμα (rheûma, “stream, flow”) from ῥέω (rhéō, “I flow”).

adj

1. Resembling or relating to rheumatism.
2. Derived from, or having the character of, rheum; rheumic.

noun

1. (rare) A person suffering from rheumatism
   It has been a clinical observation with me that the majority of chronic rheumatics are likewise the subjects of chronic constipation. 1890, The American practitioner, Volumes 9-10
   It must, be confessed, however, that the majority of rheumatics are not able to stand such treatment. 1911, George Knapp Abbott, Principles and practice of hydrotherapy
   The rheumatics in the survey who had complete disability had had this same disability for an average of two years. 1933, George Hoyt Bigelow, Herbert Luther Lombard, Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases in Massachusetts, page 19