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Epidemic - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Epidemic : adj : (especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a
disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a
community or a population simultaneously; "an epidemic
outbreak of influenza" [ant: endemic, ecdemic]
(noun)
1: a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people
are infected at the same time
Based on WordNet 2.0
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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.
2. Spreading widely, or generally prevailing; affecting great
numbers, as an epidemic does; as, epidemic rage; an
epidemic evil.
It was the epidemical sin of the nation. --Bp.
Burnet.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Epidemic : \Ep`i*dem"ic\, n. [Cf. Epidemy.]
1. (Med.) An epidemic disease.
2. Anything which takes possession of the minds of people as
an epidemic does of their bodies; as, an epidemic of
terror.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Epidemic : Epidemic: The occurrence of more cases of a disease than would be expected in a community or region during a given time period. A sudden severe outbreak of a disease such as SARS. Based on the
Greek "epi-", "upon" _ "demos", "people or population" = "epidemos" = "upon the population." See also: Endemic; Pandemic.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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