Showing results for "fomes"

• singular of fomites.

fomes

American  

[foh-meez] / ˈfoʊ miz /

noun

• fomites
  plural

1. Pathology. Usually a surface, as clothing or a door handle, that can become contaminated with pathogens when touched by the carrier of an infection, and can then transmit the pathogens to those who next touch the surface.

   I know my stainless steel sink is an excellent fomes, so it’s easily contaminated, but the vet told me not to worry about petting my dog—her porous, fibrous fur is a very poor fomes.

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fomes British  

/ ˈfəʊmiːz /

noun

1. med any material, such as bedding or clothing, that may harbour pathogens and therefore convey disease

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fomites
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fomes

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin fōmes “kindling wood, tinder,” akin to fōvēre “to keep warm”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fomes fomites

By reason of its coolness it tempers superfluous heat: wherefore it fittingly mitigates the concupiscence of the fomes.

From Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas

Therefore the fomes was not entirely removed from her.

From Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas

But there belongs to the very nature of the fomes of sin an inclination of the sensual appetite to what is contrary to reason.

From Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas

Therefore the fomes was not in the Blessed Virgin.

From Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas

Z. 18 of 23rd July Suvla Bay Six of the horseboats from which the 18 pr. and mountain batteries will previously have been landed Transport fomes from Alexandria.

From Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2 by Sir Ian Hamilton

In emails, Mid-Michigan health officials hypothesized that the cats acquired the virus from droplets, known as fomites, on their owners’ hands or clothing.

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2024

So-called fomites, particles that trap virus, might also move between farms on equipment or clothing.

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 25, 2024

Rasmussen said epidemiologists can have a difficult time finding real-word evidence of a virus’s transmission via contaminated objects or surfaces, which are called fomites.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 22, 2020

Overall, the researchers stated that the data suggests aerosolized fomites may contribute to transmission of viruses like influenza in animal models, which could have important but understudied implications for public health in humans.

From Fox News ● Aug. 20, 2020

Yet he saw fit to question the old assumption that yellow fever was spread by invisible particles called "fomites."

From How to Study and Teaching How to Study by Frank M. (Frank Morton) McMurry