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Epidemic

8 dictionary results for: Epidemic

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ep·i·dem·ic

[ep-i-dem-ik] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	Also, ep·i·dem·i·cal. (of a disease) affecting many persons at the same time, and spreading from person to person in a locality where the disease is not permanently prevalent.

2.	extremely prevalent; widespread.

–noun

3.	a temporary prevalence of a disease.

4.	a rapid spread or increase in the occurrence of something: an epidemic of riots.

[Origin: 1595–1605; obs. epidem(y) (< LL epidémia < Gk epidémía staying in one place, among the people, equiv. to epi- epi- + dêm(os) people of a district + -ia -y³) + -ic

]

—Related forms

ep·i·dem·i·cal·ly, adverb

ep·i·de·mic·i·ty

[ep-i-duh-mis-i-tee] Pronunciation Key, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ep·i·dem·ic (ěp'ĭ-děm'ĭk) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Spreading rapidly and extensively by infection and affecting many individuals in an area or a population at the same time: an epidemic outbreak of influenza.
Widely prevalent: epidemic discontent.

An outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely.
A rapid spread, growth, or development: an unemployment epidemic.

[French épidémique, from épidémie, an epidemic, from Old French espydymie, from Medieval Latin epidēmia, from Greek epidēmiā, prevalence of an epidemic disease, from epidēmos, prevalent : epi-, epi- + dēmos, people; see dā- in Indo-European roots.]

ep'i·dem'i·cal·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
epidemic

1603, from Fr. épidémique, from épidemié "an epidemic disease," from M.L. epidemia, from Gk. epidemia "prevalence of an epidemic disease" (especially the plague), from epi- "among, upon" + demos "people, district" (see demotic). Epidemiology "the study of epidemics" is from 1873.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

epidemic
adjective
1.	(especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a community or a population simultaneously; "an epidemic outbreak of influenza" [ant: endemic, ecdemic]
noun
1.	a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time

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The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

epidemic (ěp'ĭ-děm'ĭk) Pronunciation Key
An outbreak of a disease or illness that spreads rapidly among individuals in an area or population at the same time. See also endemic , pandemic.

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American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
epidemic

A contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely among the population in an area. Immunization and quarantine are two of the methods used to control an epidemic.

[Chapter:] Medicine and Health

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Epidemic

Ep`i*dem"ic\, Epidemical \Ep`i*dem"ic*al\, a. [L. epidemus, Gr. ?, ?, among the people, epidemic; ? in + ? people: cf. F. ['e]pid['e]mique. Cf. Demagogue.]

1. (Med.) Common to, or affecting at the same time, a large number in a community; -- applied to a disease which, spreading widely, attacks many persons at the same time; as, an epidemic disease; an epidemic catarrh, fever, etc. See Endemic.

2. Spreading widely, or generally prevailing; affecting great numbers, as an epidemic does; as, epidemic rage; an epidemic evil.

It was the epidemical sin of the nation. --Bp. Burnet.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Epidemic

Ep`i*dem"ic\, n. [Cf. Epidemy.]

1. (Med.) An epidemic disease.

2. Anything which takes possession of the minds of people as an epidemic does of their bodies; as, an epidemic of terror.

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