Hypertext Webster Gateway: "epidemic"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Parotitis \Par`o*ti"tis\, n. [NL. See {Parotid}, and {-itis}.]
(Med.)
Inflammation of the parotid glands.
{Epidemic}, or {Infectious}, {parotitis}, mumps.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Epidemic \Ep`i*dem"ic\, Epidemical \Ep`i*dem"ic*al\, a. [L.
epidemus, Gr. ?, ?, among the people, epidemic; ? in + ?
people: cf. F. ['e]pid['e]mique. Cf. {Demagogue}.]
1. (Med.) Common to, or affecting at the same time, a large
number in a community; -- applied to a disease which,
spreading widely, attacks many persons at the same time;
as, an epidemic disease; an epidemic catarrh, fever, etc.
See {Endemic}.
2. Spreading widely, or generally prevailing; affecting great
numbers, as an epidemic does; as, epidemic rage; an
epidemic evil.
It was the epidemical sin of the nation. --Bp.
Burnet.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Epidemic \Ep`i*dem"ic\, n. [Cf. {Epidemy}.]
1. (Med.) An epidemic disease.
2. Anything which takes possession of the minds of people as
an epidemic does of their bodies; as, an epidemic of
terror.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
epidemic
adj : (especially of medicine) of disease or anything resembling a
disease; attacking or affecting many individuals in a
community or a population simultaneously; "an epidemic
outbreak of influenza" [ant: {endemic}]
n : a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people
are infected at the same time
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