Contaction
(Con*tac"tion) n. Act of touching. [Obs.]
Contagion
(Con*ta"gion) n. [L. contagio: cf. F. contagion. See Contact.]
1. (Med.) The transmission of a disease from one person to another, by direct or indirect contact.
The term has been applied by some to the action of miasmata arising from dead animal or vegetable
matter, bogs, fens, etc., but in this sense it is now abandoned. Dunglison.
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed
To dare the vile contagion of the night?
Shak.
2. That which serves as a medium or agency to transmit disease; a virus produced by, or exhalation
proceeding from, a diseased person, and capable of reproducing the disease.
3. The act or means of communicating any influence to the mind or heart; as, the contagion of enthusiasm.
"The contagion of example." Eikon Basilike.
When lust . . .
Lets in defilement to the inward parts,
The soul grows clotted by contagion.
Milton.
4. Venom; poison. [Obs.] "I'll touch my point with this contagion." Shak.
Syn. — See Infection.
Contagioned
(Con*ta"gioned) a. Affected by contagion.
Contagionist
(Con*ta"gion*ist), n. One who believes in the contagious character of certain diseases, as
of yellow fever.
Contagious
(Con*ta"gious) a. [L. contagiosus: cf. F. contagieux.]
1. (Med.) Communicable by contact, by a virus, or by a bodily exhalation; catching; as, a contagious
disease.
2. Conveying or generating disease; pestilential; poisonous; as, contagious air.
3. Spreading or communicable from one to another; exciting similar emotions or conduct in others.
His genius rendered his courage more contagious.
Wirt.
The spirit of imitation is contagious.
Ames.
Syn. — Contagious, Infectious. These words have been used in very diverse senses; but, in general, a
contagious disease has been considered as one which is caught from another by contact, by the breath,
by bodily effluvia, etc.; while an infectious disease supposes some entirely different cause acting by a
