contagiousness

Variant of contagious

contagious definition

con·ta·gious (-jəs)

adjective

  1. spread by direct or indirect contact; communicable: said of diseases
  2. carrying, or liable to transmit, the causative agent of a contagious disease
  3. for the care of contagious patients
  4. spreading or tending to spread from person to person contagious laughter

Etymology: OFr contagieus < LL contagiosus

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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