Contagion

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Contagion \Con*ta"gion\ (k[o^]n*t[=a]"j[u^]n), n. [L. contagio:
     cf. F. contagion. See {Contact}.]
     1. (Med.) The transmission of a disease from one person to
        another, by direct or indirect contact.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     Note: The term has been applied by some to the action of
           miasmata arising from dead animal or vegetable matter,
           bogs, fens, etc., but in this sense it is now
           abandoned. --Dunglison.
           [1913 Webster]
  
                 And will he steal out of his wholesome bed
                 To dare the vile contagion of the night? --Shak.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. That which serves as a medium or agency to transmit
        disease; a virus produced by, or exhalation proceeding
        from, a diseased person, and capable of reproducing the
        disease.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. The act or means of communicating any influence to the
        mind or heart; as, the contagion of enthusiasm. "The
        contagion of example." --Eikon Basilike.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              When lust . . .
              Lets in defilement to the inward parts,
              The soul grows clotted by contagion.  --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Venom; poison. [Obs.] "I'll touch my point with this
        contagion." --Shak.
  
     Syn: See {Infection}.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  contagion
       n 1: any disease easily transmitted by contact [syn: {contagious
            disease}]
       2: an incident in which an infectious disease is transmitted
          [syn: {infection}, {transmission}]
       3: the communication of an attitude or emotional state among a
          number of people; "a contagion of mirth"; "the infection
          of his enthusiasm for poetry" [syn: {infection}]