Infect
(In*fect") a. [L. infectus: cf. F. infect. See Infect, v. t.] Infected. Cf. Enfect. [Obs.] Shak.
Infect
(In*fect"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Infected; p. pr. & vb. n. Infecting.] [L. infectus, p. p. of inficere
to put or dip into, to stain, infect; pref. in- in + facere to make; cf. F. infecter. See Fact.]
1. To taint with morbid matter or any pestilential or noxious substance or effluvium by which disease is
produced; as, to infect a lancet; to infect an apartment.
2. To affect with infectious disease; to communicate infection to; as, infected with the plague.
Them that were left alive being infected with this disease.
Sir T. North. 3. To communicate to or affect with, as qualities or emotions, esp. bad qualities; to corrupt; to contaminate; to
taint by the communication of anything noxious or pernicious. Cowper.
Infected Ston's daughters with like heat.
Milton. 4. (Law) To contaminate with illegality or to expose to penalty.
Syn. — To poison; vitiate; pollute; defile.
Infecter
(In*fect"er) n. One who, or that which, infects.
Infectible
(In*fect"i*ble) a. Capable of being infected.
Infection
(In*fec"tion) n. [Cf. F. infection, L. infectio a dyeing.]
1. The act or process of infecting.
There was a strict order against coming to those pits, and that was only to prevent infection.
De Foe. 2. That which infects, or causes the communicated disease; any effluvium, miasm, or pestilential matter
by which an infectious disease is caused.
And that which was still worse, they that did thus break out spread the infection further by their wandering
about with the distemper upon them.
De Foe. 3. The state of being infected; contamination by morbific particles; the result of infecting influence; a prevailing
disease; epidemic.
The danger was really very great, the infection being so very violent in London.
De Foe. 4. That which taints or corrupts morally; as, the infection of vicious principles.
It was her chance to light
Amidst the gross infections of those times.
Daniel. 5. (Law) Contamination by illegality, as in cases of contraband goods; implication.
6. Sympathetic communication of like qualities or emotions; influence.
Through all her train the soft infection ran.
Pope.
Mankind are gay or serious by infection.
Rambler. Syn. — Infection, Contagion. — Infection is often used in a definite and limited sense of the transmission
of affections without direct contact of individuals or immediate application or introduction of the morbific
