morbific

[ mawr-bif-ik ]

adjective

1. causing disease.

morbific

/ mɔːˈbɪfɪk /

adjective

1. causing disease; pathogenic

Derived Forms

• morˈbifically, adverb

Other Words From

• mor·bifi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of morbific¹

1645–55; < New Latin morbificus, equivalent to morb ( us ) sickness + -i- -i- + -ficus -fic

Example Sentences

In Kingston, Jamaica, for instance, British colonial officers tried to banish the disease by firing cannons through the streets “to destroy the morbific power that lurked in the dark alleys”.

From The Guardian

It may require ages for this progress, but when it is attained, and the race is set free from all morbific influences, physical death would be impossible.

From Project Gutenberg

He looked upon the morbific process as the same whichever were the mucous membranes attacked, and made a distinction only according to the localization of the disease.

From Project Gutenberg

Truffaldino, he continued, was an antidote to the morbific influences of Martellian verses; he had come to protect the King, the Prince, and all the people from the infection of those melancholic charms.

From Project Gutenberg

Fever is nothing more or less than a wholesome and salutary effort of nature to throw off some morbific matter; and, therefore, every means to lessen this indication proves injurious.

From Project Gutenberg