convalescent
/kɒnvəˈlɛs(ə)nt
/adjective
1(Of a person) recovering from an illness or medical treatment: a convalescent child you’re still convalescent and you need to rest...
- The virus is present in the exhaled air, secretions and faeces of infected birds, both before they show signs of illness and while they are convalescent.
- In England, porter, originally the beer favoured by porters at the market, became the health drink of the Victorians, often prescribed by doctors for convalescent ladies.
- Undaunted Seacole funded her own trip to the Crimea where she established the British Hotel near Balaclava to provide ‘a mess-table and comfortable quarters for sick and convalescent officers’.
Synonyms
recuperating, recovering, getting better, on the road to recovery, improving, making progress
informal on the mend
1.1 [attributive] Relating to convalescence: a convalescent home...
- This raises issues of adequate pain control during the hospital and convalescent phase of illness.
- The table shows the results of blood tests performed during the acute and convalescent stages of the illness.
- Western Montana residents needed a hospital that could provide medical and convalescent care.
noun
A person who is recovering after an illness or medical treatment: convalescents benefit from relaxation...
- Recall the case of the convalescents in the hospital ward.
- Their white colour and delicate texture have conspired to give them a reputation as a food for invalids or convalescents.
- But each district of Rome had a hospital, and there were hospitals for pilgrims, lying-in hospitals, hospitals for convalescents.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Latin convalescent- 'growing strong, recovering', from the verb convalescere (see convalesce).