premunition

[pree-myoo-nish-uhn]

noun

1. Immunology.,  a state of balance between host and infectious agent, as a bacterium or parasite, such that the immune defense of the host is sufficient to resist further infection but insufficient to destroy the agent.

premunition

/ ˌpriːmjʊˈnɪʃən /

noun

1. med a state of immunity acquired as the result of a persistent latent infection

Other Word Forms

• premunitive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of premunition¹

1920–35; < French prémunition < Latin praemūnītiōn-, stem of praemūnītiō advance provisions for defense; pre-, munition

Word History and Origins

Origin of premunition¹

C15 (in the sense: to protect beforehand): from Latin praemūnitiō, from praemūnīre, from prae before + mūnīre to fortify