1
die of the pox
此处 the pox 指旧时以出疹为特征的疾病；现在更常见于 chickenpox（水痘）、smallpox（天花）等复合词中。
Many people died of the pox before vaccines existed.
在疫苗出现之前，许多人死于痘症。
痘；痘疮
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
痘；痘疮
A disease that causes skin eruptions (especially pus-filled ones) and may leave pockmarks.
Many people died of the pox before vaccines existed.
在疫苗出现之前，许多人死于痘症。
以皮肤出疹(尤指脓性疹)为特征、可能留下麻点的疾病。
A disease characterized by skin eruptions (especially purulent ones) that may leave pockmarks.
诅咒。
A curse.
The old book described how the pox spread through the village, leaving many people scarred.
那本旧书描述了这种痘病如何传遍村庄，使许多人留下疤痕。
In the past, children who caught the pox were kept at home until the sores healed.
过去，得了痘病的孩子会被留在家中，直到疮口愈合。
The doctor recognized the telltale blisters and knew it was the pox.
医生认出那些典型的疱疹，知道这是痘病。
此处 the pox 指旧时以出疹为特征的疾病；现在更常见于 chickenpox（水痘）、smallpox（天花）等复合词中。
Many people died of the pox before vaccines existed.
在疫苗出现之前，许多人死于痘症。
这是旧式诅咒语，用来表达愤怒或厌烦，现代英语中已不常用。
A pox on cheats and liars!
让骗子和说谎者都遭瘟！
Not this
The chickenpox left pox on his face.
Use this
The chickenpox left pockmarks on his face.
pox 指的是“痘病”这类疾病，不是皮肤上的单个凹坑或麻点；表示疾病留下的疤痕要用 pockmarks，不能把 pox 当作 pock 的复数来用。
Not this
Pox on you!
Use this
A pox on you!
这是固定诅咒习语 a pox on...，名词 pox 前必须有不定冠词 a，表示“愿灾祸降临”；漏掉 a 不符合英语习惯。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
水痘
Chicken pox is common in children but can be serious for adults.
水痘在儿童中很常见，但对成人来说可能很严重。
天花
Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980.
1980年，天花被宣告根除。
牛痘
Cowpox was used to make the first vaccine.
牛痘被用来制造第一种疫苗。
猴痘
Monkeypox cases have risen in several countries.
猴痘病例在几个国家有所增加。
诅咒；让……遭殃
A pox on both your houses!
但愿你们两家都遭殃！
对（某人或某事）的诅咒；但愿……遭殃
A pox on both your houses!
你们两家都该遭殃！
你们两家都遭瘟！
When both sides refused to compromise, he muttered, "A pox on both your houses!"
当双方都不肯妥协时，他咕哝道：“你们两家都遭瘟！”
Use pox naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
把“pox”的字母 p 想成皮肤上鼓起的脓疱，破溃后留下痘印，即‘痘疮’。
语域：formal 常见场景：历史文本、文学表达、旧式医学叙述 pox 单独作名词表示‘痘病’时，多用于历史或文学语境，现代英语中更常见于 smallpox、chickenpox 等复合词；整体带有古旧或书面色彩。
在英式读音中，pox /pɒks/ 与 box、fox、ox、socks、locks、rocks 都押韵，读作 /ɒks/。其中 box、fox、ox 拼写以 -ox 结尾，与 pox 的拼写模式相同；socks、locks、rocks 拼写为 -cks，但发音同样是 /ks/。注意：以 po- 开头的常见词如 pole /pəʊl/、police /pəˈliːs/、post /pəʊst/ 元音不同，不与 pox 押韵。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.