miasmic

Variant of miasma

miasma definition

mi·asma (mī az′mə, mē-)

noun pl. miasmas -·mas or miasmata -·mata (-mə tə)

  1. a vapor rising as from marshes or decomposing animal or vegetable matter, formerly supposed to poison and infect the air, causing malaria, etc.
  2. an unwholesome or befogging atmosphere, influence, etc.

Etymology: ModL < Gr, pollution < miainein, to pollute < IE base *mai- > OE mal, a spot

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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