premunition

American  

[pree-myoo-nish-uhn] / ˌpri myuˈnɪʃ ən /

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.

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premunition British  

/ ˌpriːmjʊˈnɪʃən /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• premunitive
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of premunition

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