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contagium

[ kuhn-tey-juhm, -jee-uhm ]
/ kənˈteɪ dʒəm, -dʒi əm /
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noun, plural con·ta·gia [kuhn-tey-juh, -jee-uh]. /kənˈteɪ dʒə, -dʒi ə/. Pathology.

the causative agent of a contagious or infectious disease, as a virus.

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Origin of contagium

1645–55; <Latin, equivalent to contāg- (see contagion) + -ium-ium

Words nearby contagium

contagious disease, contagious ecthyma, contagious granular conjunctivitis, contagious magic, contagious stomatitis, contagium, contain, contained, container, containerboard, container car
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

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British Dictionary definitions for contagium

contagium
/ (kənˈteɪdʒɪəm) /

noun plural -gia (-dʒɪə)

pathol the specific virus or other direct cause of any infectious disease

Word Origin for contagium

C17: from Latin, variant of contāgiō contagion
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for contagium

contagium
[ kən-tā′jəm ]

n. pl. con•ta•gia (-jə)

The causative agent of a communicable disease; contagion.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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