infection etymology

Etymology:

"Infection" comes from the Latin word "infectiō," which means "a staining or a poisoning." It is derived from the verb "inficere," meaning "to stain, to taint, to corrupt."

Meaning:

• Medical: A process in which a microorganism (e.g., bacteria, virus, fungus) invades and multiplies within the body of a living host, causing disease or harm.
• Broadly: Any process or condition that contaminates, corrupts, or damages something.

Origin:

The concept of infection has been recognized since ancient times. The word "infection" was first used in English in the 14th century to refer to the process of transmitting disease. In the 16th century, it began to be used specifically to refer to the presence of harmful microorganisms in the body.

The following are some examples of the evolution of the word "infection" in English:

• 14th century: "Infeccion" (as in "the infeccion of the ayre")
• 16th century: "Infection" (as in "the infection of the plague")
• 17th century: "An infection" (as in "an infection of the lungs")
• 19th century: "The infection" (as in "the infection spread throughout the community")

Today, "infection" is a commonly used term in medicine and biology, as well as in broader contexts related to contamination or damage.

infection relate terms

• infect

  Etymology The word infect derives from the Latin inficere which means to put a sta

• infectious

  Etymology The word infectious comes from the Latin word inficere meaning to corrupt

• infection

  Etymology Infection comes from the Latin word infectiō which means a staining or

• contagion

  Etymology of Contagion The word contagion comes from the Latin word contagium which

• contagion

  Etymology of Contagion The word contagion comes from the Latin word contagium which

• septicemia

  Etymology Sepsis Greek poisonous putrid emia Greek blood condition Mean

• carrier

  Etymology Old French carier Latin carrus cart chariot iarius suffix denoting r

• Montezuma

  Etymology The name Montezuma is derived from the Nahuatl language the language spoken

• contamination

  Etymology Latin contaminare Meaning To defile pollute or make unclean Origin Th

• incident

  Etymology The word incident derives from the Latin word incidere which means to fal