miasma English · revision 1389

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /miˈæzmə/, /maɪˈæzmə/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-new|miasma|t=noxious vapours]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|μίασμα|tr=míasma|t=stain, pollution, defilement]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''miaínein'' “to pollute”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) An earlier English form was ''miasm'' (1640s), from French ''miasme''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Infectious exhalations from rotting organic matter, polluting the air (1665).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Before germs were understood, miasma was believed to rise from swamps and decaying matter and to cause disease.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The word has since been extended to any heavy vapour, such as tobacco smoke, and to an oppressive or corrupting influence or atmosphere.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1640s – ''miasm''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1665 – noxious vapours causing disease.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A harmful or oppressive atmosphere or influence.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A poisonous vapour formerly believed to rise from swamps and rotting matter and to cause disease.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A thick, heavy vapour, as of smoke.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[miasmal]]

+ * [[miasmatic]]

+ * [[miasmic]]

+ * [[miasmically]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}