Epidemical

1 definition found

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

  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}.
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     2. Spreading widely, or generally prevailing; affecting great
        numbers, as an epidemic does; as, epidemic rage; an
        epidemic evil.
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              It was the epidemical sin of the nation. --Bp.
                                                    Burnet.
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