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 there was also the fomes of sin.

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

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

And hence it is plain that the more perfect the virtues are in any man, the weaker the fomes of sin becomes in him.

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

And in respect of this, it may be said that He purified her entirely from the fomes.

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

For some have held that the fomes was entirely taken away in that sanctification whereby the Blessed Virgin was sanctified in the womb.

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