Word Meanings - CONTAGIOUS - Book Publishers vocabulary database

Communicable by contact, by a virus, or by a bodily exhalation; catching; as, a contagious disease. 2. Conveying or generating disease; pestilential; poisonous; as, contagious air. 3. Spreading or communicable from one to another; exciting similar

Additional info about word: CONTAGIOUS

Communicable by contact, by a virus, or by a bodily exhalation; catching; as, a contagious disease. 2. Conveying or generating disease; pestilential; poisonous; as, contagious air. 3. Spreading or communicable from one to another; exciting similar emotions or conduct in others. His genius rendered his courage more contagious. Wirt. The spirit of imitation is contagious. Ames. Syn. -- Contagious, Infectious. These words have been used in very diverse senses; but, in general, a contagious disease has considered as one which is caught from another by contact, by the breath, by bodily effluvia, etc.; while an infectious disease supposes some entirely different cause acting by a hidden influence, like the miasma of prison ships, of marshes, etc., infecting the system with disease. "This distinction, though not universally admitted by medical men, as to the literal meaning, of the words, certainly applies to them in their figurative use. Thus we speak of the contagious influence of evil associates; their contagion of bad example, the contagion of fear, etc., when we refer to transmission by proximity or contact. On the other hand, we speak of infection by bad principles, etc., when we consider anything as diffused by some hidden influence.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of CONTAGIOUS)

• Pestiferous
• Insalubrious
• pestilential
• deleterious
• mephitic
• virulent
• mortiferous
• infectious
• contagious
• catching
• lethal
• morbific

Related words: (words related to CONTAGIOUS)

• INFECTIOUSLY
  In an infectious manner. Shak.
• MEPHITIC; MEPHITICAL
  1. Tending to destroy life; poisonous; noxious; as, mephitic exhalations; mephitic regions. 2. Offensive to the smell; as, mephitic odors. Mephitic air , carbon dioxide; -- so called because of its deadly suffocating power. See Carbonic acid,
• CATCHWORK
  A work or artificial watercourse for throwing water on lands that lie on the slopes of hills; a catchdrain.
• CATCHER
  The player who stands behind the batsman to catch the ball. (more info) 1. One who, or that which, catches.
• CATCHWORD
  The first word of any page of a book after the first, inserted at the right hand bottom corner of the preceding page for the assistance of the reader. It is seldom used in modern printing. 3. A word or phrase caught up and repeated for effect; as,
• VIRULENT
  1. Extremely poisonous or venomous; very active in doing injury. A contagious disorder rendered more virulent by uncleanness. Sir W. Scott. 2. Very bitter in enmity; actuated by a desire to injure; malignant; as, a virulent invective.
• CATCH TITLE
  A short expressive title used for abbreviated book lists, etc.
• LETHAL
  One of the higher alcohols of the paraffine series obtained from spermaceti as a white crystalline solid. It is so called because it occurs in the ethereal salt of lauric acid.
• INFECTIOUS
  Contaminating with illegality; exposing to seizure and forfeiture. Contraband articles are said to be of an infectious nature. Kent. 4. Capable of being easily diffused or spread; sympathetic; readily communicated; as, infectious mirth. The laughter
• CATCHPENNY
  Made or contrived for getting small sums of money from the ignorant or unwary; as, a catchpenny book; a catchpenny show. -- n.
• CATCHDRAIN
  A dich or drain along the side of a hill to catch the surface water; also, a ditch at the side of a canal to catch the surplus water.
• CATCHFLY
  A plant with the joints of the stem, and sometimes other parts, covered with a viscid secretion to which small insects adhere. The species of Silene are examples of the catchfly.
• INFECTIOUS DISEASE
  Any disease caused by the entrance, growth, and multiplication of bacteria or protozoans in the body; a germ disease. It may not be contagious. Sometimes, as distinguished from contagious disease, such a disease communicated by germs carried in
• CATCHPOLL
  A bailiff's assistant.
• CATCHWATER
  A ditch or drain for catching water. See Catchdrain.
• PESTILENTIALLY
  Pestilently.
• CATCHWEED
  See CLEAVERS
• CONTAGIOUSLY
  In a contagious manner.
• MORBIFIC; MORBIFICAL
  Causing disease; generating a sickly state; as, a morbific matter.
• VIRULENTED
  Made virulent; poisoned.
• SCATCH
  A kind of bit for the bridle of a horse; -- called also scatchmouth. Bailey.
• BEAUCATCHER
  A small flat curl worn on the temple by women.
• CONY-CATCH
  To deceive; to cheat; to trick. Take heed, Signor Baptista, lest you be cony-catched in the this business. Shak.
• WORD-CATCHER
  One who cavils at words.
• TORPEDO CATCHER
  A small fast vessel for pursuing and destroying torpedo boats.
• BIRDCATCHER
  One whose employment it is to catch birds; a fowler.
• SCATCHES
  Stilts.
• COWCATCHER
  A strong inclined frame, usually of wrought-iron bars, in front of a locomotive engine, for catching or throwing off obstructions on a railway, as cattle; the pilot.
• FLYCATCHER
  One of numerous species of birds that feed upon insects, which they take on the wing. Note: The true flycatchers of the Old World are Oscines, and belong to the family Muscicapidæ, as the spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola). The American
• CONY-CATCHER
  A cheat; a sharper; a deceiver. Minsheu.