epidemic
[ep-i-dem-ik]
|
adjective
Also ep·i·dem·i·cal. (of a disease) affecting many persons at the same time, and spreading from person to person in a locality where the disease is not permanently prevalent.
extremely prevalent; widespread.
noun
a temporary prevalence of a disease.
a rapid spread or increase in the occurrence of something: an epidemic of riots.
Origin of epidemic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for epidemical
Historical Examples of epidemical
It appears often in the epidemical form and spreads by contagion.
The Eugenic Marriage, Volume IV. (of IV.)Grant Hague
But there was raging then a sort of epidemical belief in native deficiency and in the absolute necessity of importing art talent.
Art in EnglandDutton Cook
First, the physicians are to take care that they do nothing to irritate this epidemical distemper.
This disease exactly resembled that which was so epidemical in the year 1733.
A History of Epidemics in Britain, Volume II (of 2)Charles Creighton
I am charmed to see a part of your Majesty's Dominions in a state of Pyrrhonism; the disease is epidemical here at present.
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XII. (of XXI.)Thomas Carlyle
epidemic
adjective
noun
Word Origin for epidemic
C17: from French épidémique, via Late Latin from Greek epidēmia literally: among the people, from epi- + dēmos people
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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epidemic
epidemic
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
epidemic
[ĕp′ĭ-dĕm′ĭk]
adj.
n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
epidemic
[ĕp′ĭ-dĕm′ĭk]
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
epidemic
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.