The agency, principle, or material by which (a) disease is transmitted or spread. Obsolete.

More generally: any substance that produces (supposed) fermentation; a ferment (ferment, n. 1); a causative agent of a zymotic disease. Obsolete.

Medicine. Originally: pus or other discharge produced by an ulcer or wound. Later: a substance produced within the body by a disease, esp. when…

The substance or principle by which a contagious disease is transmitted; = contagium, n.

A contaminating, corrupting, or depraving influence, physical or moral; a cause or condition of corruption or decay; an infection.

Medicine. Something that is capable of transferring a disease from one place or individual to another; spec. an object or substance that is…

A medium which transmits or conveys any disease or other condition.

An infecting or infectious agent.

= zyme, n.

spec. ‘The supposed solid or gaseous organized or unorganized substance by which infectious or contagious diseases are communicated’ (New Sydenham So…

A substance, agent, condition, process, or influence that is harmful to the body.

A microorganism that causes disease. Also figurative.

A name for the substance or principle causing a zymotic disease: cf. zymosis, n.

= autointoxicant n.

Medicine. Anything which tends to cause disease in or injury to the body or to disturb normal bodily processes; also, the resulting reaction, lesion…