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

Inflected Forms

noun

• 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

Therefore it was unfitting that the fomes should be entirely taken away from her.

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

If the discharge be stopped by astringents, a putrid fomes is retained in the body, which aggravates the delirium and increases the fever.

From Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air by Priestley, Joseph

Objection 1: It would seem that the Blessed Virgin was not cleansed from the infection of the fomes.

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

But the lessening of the fomes, which is the law of sin, is set down as an effect not of this sacrament, but rather of Baptism.

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

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 Hamilton, Ian, Sir