contagium

[ kuhn-tey-juhm, -jee-uhm ]

noun

, Pathology.

, plural con·ta·gia [k, uh, n-, tey, -j, uh, -jee-, uh].

1. the causative agent of a contagious or infectious disease, as a virus.

contagium

/ kənˈteɪdʒɪəm /

noun

1. pathol the specific virus or other direct cause of any infectious disease

Word History and Origins

Origin of contagium¹

1645–55; < Latin, equivalent to contāg- ( contagion ) + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of contagium¹

C17: from Latin, variant of contāgiō contagion

Example Sentences

Thus the theory of contagium vivum, for which Henle contended as early as 1821, was not forgotten.

From Project Gutenberg

Hoare states that in this type of specific arthritis the contagium is probably carried by the blood.

From Project Gutenberg

Richardson believes that the contagium was attached to the thatch, which could not be thoroughly disinfected.

From Project Gutenberg

A freezing temperature ordinarily destroys the contagium of yellow fever.

From Project Gutenberg

He also made some remarkable experiments on the permanence of the contagium in the form of spores.

From Project Gutenberg