infection English · revision 5928

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1398|origins=la-lat infectio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˈfek.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English infeccioun, [[bor|fro|infeccion|t=contamination, poisoning]] and directly [[bor|la-lat|īnfectiō|t=infection, contagion]] (accusative infectionem),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) a noun of action from īnfectus, past participle of [[m|la|īnficere|t=to dip in, stain, taint, spoil]] (see [[infect]]).^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Affecting something injuriously, as with disease: 1398 in the OED;^(OED 1989) an infectious disease or contaminated condition in the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The contamination of air or water with disease, and the agent or germ that carries it, are from 1412–20,^(OED 1989) the first now rare.^(SOED 2002) The communication of disease, especially through air or water, as distinguished from contagion by bodily contact, is from the 1540s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and an infectious disease or epidemic from 1563.^(OED 1989) Moral contamination by evil influences is from before 1529,^(OED 1989) and the spreading of heresy or sedition from 1529.^(OED 1989) In international law the contamination of a ship or cargo by illegality is from 1879.^(OED 1989) The modern medical sense, invasion of the body by harmful microorganisms that multiply in it, followed the germ theory.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1398 – injurious affection.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1412–20 – contamination of air or water.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1529 – moral or political contamination.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1540s – transmission of disease by air or water.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1563 – an infectious disease.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1879 – in international law.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The invasion of the body by harmful [[microorganism|alt=microorganisms]], such as [[bacteria]] or viruses, and the condition that results.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An infectious disease.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+ # The act of infecting, or the state of being infected.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The spreading of an influence or feeling from one person to another.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[autoinfection]]

+ * [[coinfection]]

+ * [[noninfection]]

+ * [[postinfection]]

+ * [[preinfection]]

+ * [[reinfection]]

+ * [[subinfection]]

+ * [[superinfection]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[infect]]

+ * [[infective]]

+ * [[infectious]]

+ * [[disinfect]]

+ * [[affect]]

+ * [[effect]]

+ * [[fact]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}