contagiousadj.
/kənˈteɪdʒəs/, U.S. /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ I. Where the notion of mutual contact is present.
1. Of the nature of or characterized by contagion; communicating disease or corruption by contact; infectious. Also figurative.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > production of disease > [adjective] > infectious
contagiousc1374
infectivea1398
smitting?c1450
infected1480
infectuous1495
infecting1539
infectious1575
smittle1583
catching1594
contaminous1599
taking1608
communicative1741
malignant1822
contaminative1826
zymotic1842
smittling1845
infectant1855
autoinfective1874
catchy1884
toxo-infectious1907
postinfectious1913
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > [adjective] > corrupting > infecting
contagiousc1374
poisonful1520
infectivea1522
poisonous1555
infectious1574
poisonala1660
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. iii. xii. 101 Whan I lost my memorie by þe contagious coniunccioun of þe body wiþ þe soule.
1607 T. Walkington Optick Glasse ii. sig. B6 His soule must needes bee affected with the contagious qualities incident vnto his bodie.
1796 R. Southey Joan of Arc vii. 451 Ere the contagious vices of the court Polluted her, he thought.
1835 A. Ure Philos. Manuf. 413 Amid the contagious habits of great cities.
2.
a. Of diseases: Communicable or infectious by contact. See contagion n. 1.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > production of disease > [adjective] > contagious
contagiousc1400
smittling1845
catchy1884
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 196 Þis [leprosy] is oon of the syknessis þat ben contagious.
a1527 R. Thorne in R. Hakluyt Divers Voy. (1582) sig. B3v Of some contagious sickenes he died.
1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII c. 42 §3 The pestilence, great pockes, and such other contagious infirmityes.
a1626 F. Bacon in Resuscitatio (ed. Rawley) 111 Pestilences, Sweats, and other Contagious Diseases.
1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 10. ⁋11 There is a contagious Sickness, which, it is feared, will end in a Pestilence.
1803 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 10 108 I do not think influenza to be contagious.
1879 Maclagan in 19th Cent. 810 When we wish to say that a disease is produced by personal contact with a person suffering from it..we call it contagious.
b. Contagious Diseases Acts: the title of a number of acts of parliament passed in 1866 and following years, to check the propagation of venereal diseases in certain military and naval stations (‘C.D. Acts’), and to check the spread of rinderpest and other diseases among cattle ( Contagious Diseases (Animals) Acts).
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1866 Resolution Ho. Commons 24 Apr. That it is expedient to make provision for the payment of any Expenses that may be incurred, under any Act of the present Session for the better prevention of Contagious Diseases at certain Naval and Military Stations.
1883 Times 21 Apr. 8/4.
1887 Ho. Commons 14 June The Regulations..in force under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878.
c. contagious abortion n. a type of brucellosis in cattle caused by Brucella abortus and producing abortion.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of cattle > [noun] > other disorders of cattle
murrainc1450
gall1577
gargyse1577
sprenges1577
wisp1577
closh1587
milting1587
moltlong1587
hammer1600
mallet1600
scurvy1604
wither1648
speed1704
nostril dropping1708
bladdera1722
heartsick1725
throstling1726
striking1776
feather-cling1799
hollow-horn1805
weed1811
blood striking1815
the slows1822
toad-bit1825
coast-fever1840
horn-distemper1843
rat's tail1847
whethering1847
milk fever1860
milt-sickness1867
pearl tumour1872
actinomycosis1877
pearl disease1877
rat-tail1880
lumpy jaw1891
niatism1895
cripple1897
rumenitis1897
Rhodesian fever1903
reticulitis1905
barbone1907
contagious abortion1910
trichomoniasis1915
shipping fever1932
New Forest disease1954
bovine spongiform encephalopathy1987
BSE1987
mad cow disease1988
East Coast fever2009
1910 Jrnl. Infectious Dis. 7 475 The bacillus of Bang is the microbic cause of at least some of the contagious abortion of cattle in this country.
1951 Harries & Mitman Clin. Pract. in Infectious Dis. (ed. 4) xxx. 549 The high incidence of contagious abortion and the low incidence of abortus fever.
3. Tainted with and communicating contagion: charged with the germs of an infectious disease.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > production of disease > [adjective] > contagious > affected by contagion
contagious1584
contagioned1825
compromised1844
1584 T. Cogan Hauen of Health ccxliii. 265 The clothes especially of wollen..continue contagious by the space of three yeares, and more.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 225 Their Breath, their Sweat, their very Cloaths were contagious for many Days before.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 227 They might go about seemingly whole, and yet be contagious to all those that came near them.
1813 J. Thomson Lect. Inflammation 350 The absorption of..bile, milk, contagious matters.
4. figurative. Apt to be communicated from one to another or to others. (Cf. catching adj. 2, infectious adj. 6.)
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the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > effect produced on emotions > infectious quality of emotion > [adjective]
infective1593
catching1594
infectious1619
contagious1660
1660 R. Boyle Seraphic Love 144 If our Friends do not allay our Love or Affection by unwelcome Actions, or their contagious Sufferings.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 1036 Well understood Of Eve, whose Eye darted contagious Fire. View more context for this quotation
1689 T. Shadwell Bury-Fair ii. i I see this Folly is contagious.
1730 J. Thomson Autumn in Seasons 176 From look to look, contagious thro' the crowd, The Pannic runs.
1769 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. xv. 107 Ripened to..maturity of corruption,..the worst examples cease to be contagious.
1867 R. W. Emerson Progr. Culture in Wks. (1906) III. 235 All vigour is contagious, and when we see creation we also begin to create.
II. In more general sense: Breeding disease, injurious, noxious.† 5. † b. Hurtful or injurious as food. Obsolete.† c. Foul, noisome, fetid. Obsolete.† 6. Injurious to human life or health otherwise than by breeding disease; pernicious, noxious.† 7. Morally or socially injurious, noxious, or dangerous; grievous, ‘pestilent’. Obsolete.
a. Apt to breed or infect with disease, fever-breeding, pestilential; ‘that corrupteth or infecteth’ ( Table Alph. 1613). Obsolete.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > insalubrity > [adjective]
evilc1000
unsete1387
pestilenta1398
pestilentiala1398
unhealfulc1400
unthendec1425
unsetyc1440
unwholesomec1455
ill1488
pestifere1490
contagious1495
infectious1534
pestiferous1538
unhealthsome1544
unkindlyc1570
deletery1576
deleterious1587
bad1589
unhealthful1598
unsound1598
unhealthy1600
sickly1604
deleterial1621
tetrous1637
insalubrious1638
unseasoned1638
cankered1645
healthless1650
insalutary1694
maliferous1727
insanous1742
unsalubrious1781
unsanitary1872
insanitary1874
devitalizing1875
antihygienic1876
unhygienic1883
unhealthy-looking1890
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) xvii. xxiv. sig. Oiijv/1 The stenche & lothsom sauour of deed caraynes & other daungerous & contagyous ayres.
1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII c. 8 Which prison is oon of the most anoyous, contagious and detestablest places withyn this realme.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde iii. vi. f. 122 The place is also contagious..by reason it is coompased aboute with muddy and stynkynge marysshes.
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1546/1 This summer..was verie hot and contagious.
1633 Great Batt. Lutzen To Rdr. sig. A4 Contagious and poysonous Deserts.
1691 J. Ray Wisdom of God 65 Noysom and contagious Vapors.
1792 S. Rogers Pleasures Mem. ii. 271 Those tend'rer tints that..in the world's contagious climate die.
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the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [adjective] > unwholesome
unwhole?c1225
unwholesome1297
queasyc1450
contagious?a1500
naughty1535
spilled1574
naught1588
spilt1595
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Lion & Mouse l. 1492 in Poems (1981) 60 To fyle ȝour teith or lippis with my blude, Quhilk to ȝour stomok is contagious.
?1518 A. Barclay tr. D. Mancinus Myrrour Good Maners sig. Hiii Can kepe hym from daunger, of meate contagyous.
1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. f. xxi Beware of contagiouse meates & drinkes as new ale..new hote breed [etc.].
1594 H. Plat Diuerse Sorts of Soyle 8 in Jewell House Unto man..the eating of much salt is very contagious, because it maketh the blood salt.
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the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fetor > [adjective]
foul-stinkingOE
poignantc1387
rammishc1395
rank1479
reekya1500
puanta1529
unsavoury1539
uglyc1540
contagious1547
noisome1559
fulsome1576
fetid1599
nasty1601
unsweet1605
rammy1607
stenchful1615
stinkardly1616
rancid1627
reeking1629
pungent1644
olidous1646
stenching1654
graveolent1657
maleolent1657
virous1661
olid1680
ranciduous1688
feculent1703
virose1756
stenchy1757
infragrant1813
inodorous1823
nosy1836
malodorous1850
unfragrant1858
smelly1862
cacodorous1863
stinky1888
funked out1893
niffya1903
whiffy1905
pongy1936
fresh1966
minging1970
bogging1973
bowfing1983
honking1985
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > pollution or defilement > [adjective]
mixedc1300
pollutea1382
infectc1384
unpurea1398
fouledc1400
drossyc1420
polluteda1425
defouledc1440
dreggyc1440
feculent1471
filed1483
violate?c1500
feding1502
fly-blown1528
cankered1530
defiled1530
contagious1547
dregful1552
contaminatea1555
menstruous1560
dreggish1561
conspurcate1563
empoisoned1581
inquinated?1593
pollutionate1593
fly-bitten1598
impure1598
druggy1599
contaminated1609
transboundary1918
1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. f. Cxxiv Let him vse odiferous sauours and no contagiouse ayers.
1589 T. Nashe To Students in R. Greene Menaphon Epist. sig. **2 The vnsauorie sent, of the pitchie slime, that Euphrates casts vp, and the contagious fumes of Goates beardes burnt.
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the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [adjective] > harmful or injurious
litherc893
scathefulc900
orneOE
teenfulOE
atterlichc1050
evilc1175
wicka1250
scathela1300
deringa1325
unkindc1330
harmfula1340
ill1340
wicked1340
shrewdc1380
noisomea1382
venomed1382
noyfulc1384
damageousc1386
infectivea1398
unwholesomea1400
annoying?c1400
mischievous1414
damnablec1420
contagiousc1430
mischievable?a1439
damagefulc1449
damageable1474
unhappy1474
nuisable1483
nocible1490
nuisible1490
nuisant1494
noxiousa1500
nocent?c1500
hurtful1526
sinistral1534
nocive1538
offendent1547
offensivea1548
dangerous1548
naughtya1555
dispendious1557
offensible1575
wrackful1578
baneful1579
hindersome1580
scandalizing1593
damnifiable1604
taking1608
toadish1611
illful1613
nocivousc1616
mischieving1621
nocuous1627
obnoxious1638
nocumentous1644
vicious1656
nocumental1657
abnoxious1680
dungeonable1691
offending1694
hurtsomea1699
nociferous1706
sinister1726
damnific1727
hazardous1748
slaughtering1811
damaging1856
damnous1870
lethal1942
c1430 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1554) ix. xxii. 206 a Most in murdre he was contagious Of Innocent blood to make effusion.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. xix. f. ixv Flyes..so noyous and contageous that they slewe moche people.
1599 R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (new ed.) II. ii. 105 Now the Winter comming vpon vs with much contagious weather.
1650 J. Bulwer Anthropometamorphosis 199 Rid them out of the world..as contagious beasts.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures 243 All kind of contagious creatures, as lizards, serpents, and adders.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > [adjective]
litherc893
scathefulc900
balefulOE
orneOE
teenfulOE
evilc1175
venomousc1290
scathela1300
prejudiciala1325
fell?c1335
harmfula1340
grievous1340
ill1340
wicked1340
noisomea1382
venomed1382
noyfulc1384
damageousc1386
mischievousc1390
unwholesomea1400
undisposingc1400
damnablec1420
prejudiciable1429
contagiousc1440
damagefulc1449
pestiferous1458
damageable1474
pestilent?a1475
nuisable1483
nocible1490
nuisible1490
nuisant1494
noxiousa1500
nocent?c1500
pestilential1531
tortious1532
pestilentious1533
nocive1538
offensivea1548
vitiating1547
dangerous1548
offending1552
dispendious1557
injurious1559
offensible1575
offensant1578
baneful1579
incommodious1579
prejudicious1579
prejudical1595
inimicous1598
damnifiable1604
taking1608
obnoxious1612
nocivousc1616
mischieving1621
nocuous1627
nocumentous1644
disserviceable1645
inimical1645
detrimentous1648
injuring1651
detrimental1656
inimicitial1656
nocumental1657
incommodous1677
fatal1681
inimic1696
nociferous1706
damnific1727
inimicable1805
violational1821
insalutary1836
detrimentary1841
wronging1845
unsalvatory1850
damaging1856
damnous1870
wack1986
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > [adjective] > morally
balefulc1175
contagiousc1440
deleterious1630
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [adjective] > harmful or injurious > harmful or pernicious
baleOE
balefulc1175
venomousc1290
contagiousc1440
pestiferous1458
pestilent?a1475
perniciousc1475
pestilential1531
pestilentious1533
plaguey1574
deleterious1630
unedifying1641
perniciable1656
inedifying1659
unimproving1747
insalutary1836
unsalvatory1850
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 91 Contagyows or grevows to dele wythe, contagiosus.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccxxxiii. 323 So this ordynaunce of the pope was right contagyous to them.
1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 54 A contagious broode of Scismatickes.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iii. xlii. 276 To cast out of their Synagogues, such as they thought in manners, or doctrine, contagious.
8. Ecology. Of, pertaining to, or exhibiting contagion (see contagion n. 8).
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the world > life > biology > balance of nature > distribution > [adjective] > of association or aggregation
contagious1939
1939 J. Neyman in Ann. Math. Statistics 10 36 The distributions considered belong to a class which Pólya proposed to call ‘contagious’: the presence of one larva within an experimental plot increases the chance of there being some more larvae.
1957 P. Greig-Smith Quantitative Plant Ecol. iii. 56 Recently contagious has been widely used for aggregated distributions generally, and this seems a suitable term, although originally applied by Pólya to a particular type of aggregation.
1957 P. Greig-Smith Quantitative Plant Ecol. iii. 78 If distribution is contagious then, whatever the exact nature of the contagion, the actual occurrence of individuals on the ground is..patchy.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.c1374