virus etymology

Etymology

  • Latin: vīrus (plural: vĭrā)
  • Middle English: virus

Meaning

  • A microscopic infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism.

Origin

The term "virus" (plural: "viruses") was used in the 13th century to describe a poisonous substance or a noxious agent. It is derived from the Latin word "vīrus," which means "poison" or "venom." The term was originally used to describe the toxic substances secreted by snakes and other animals.

In the 19th century, the term "virus" began to be used to describe infectious diseases caused by microorganisms that could not be seen under a microscope. The first virus to be discovered was the tobacco mosaic virus in 1892. In the 20th century, the development of electron microscopes allowed scientists to see viruses for the first time.

Today, the term "virus" is used to describe a wide variety of infectious agents that can infect both plants and animals. Viruses are typically composed of a protein coat and a nucleic acid core. They can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism, and they are not considered to be living organisms themselves.

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