premunition

[ pree-myoo-nish-uhn ]

noun

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.

Origin of premunition

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

Also called coinfectious immunity.

Other words from premunition

pre·mu·ni·tive [pree-myoo-ni-tiv], /priˈmyu nɪ tɪv/, adjective

Words Nearby premunition

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for premunition

premunition

/ (ˌpriːmjʊˈnɪʃən) /

noun

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

Origin of premunition

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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