contagion

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun any disease easily transmitted by contact
  2. noun an incident in which an infectious disease is transmitted
  3. noun the communication of an attitude or emotional state among a number of people

Etymology

From Middle English (late 14th century), from Old French, from Latin contāgiō (“a touching, contact, contagion”) related to contingō (“touch closely”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

contagious disease

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