Infect

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Infected; p. pr. & vb. n. Infecting. ] [ L. infectus, p. p. of inficere to put or dip into, to stain, infect; pref. in- in + facere to make; cf. F. infecter. See Fact. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To taint with morbid matter or any pestilential or noxious substance or effluvium by which disease is produced; as, to infect a lancet; to infect an apartment. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To affect with infectious disease; to communicate infection to; as, infected with the plague. [ 1913 Webster ]

Them that were left alive being infected with this disease. Sir T. North. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To communicate to or affect with, as qualities or emotions, esp. bad qualities; to corrupt; to contaminate; to taint by the communication of anything noxious or pernicious. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Infected Ston's daughters with like heat. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) To contaminate with illegality or to expose to penalty.

Syn. -- To poison; vitiate; pollute; defile. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, infects. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being infected. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. infection, L. infectio a dyeing. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act or process of infecting. [ 1913 Webster ]

There was a strict order against coming to those pits, and that was only to prevent infection. De Foe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which infects, or causes the communicated disease; any effluvium, miasm, or pestilential matter by which an infectious disease is caused. [ 1913 Webster ]

And that which was still worse, they that did thus break out spread the infection further by their wandering about with the distemper upon them. De Foe. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of being infected; the condition of suffering from an infectious disease; contamination by morbific particles; the result of infecting influence; a prevailing disease; epidemic. [ 1913 Webster ]

The danger was really very great, the infection being so very violent in London. De Foe. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which taints or corrupts morally; as, the infection of vicious principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was her chance to light
Amidst the gross infections of those times. Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) Contamination by illegality, as in cases of contraband goods; implication. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Sympathetic communication of like qualities or emotions; influence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Through all her train the soft infection ran. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mankind are gay or serious by infection. Rambler.

7. A localized area of tissue which is inflamed by growth of microorganisms; as, he has an infection in his finger. [ PJC ]

Syn. -- Infection, Contagion. -- Infection is often used in a definite and limited sense of the transmission of affections without direct contact of individuals or immediate application or introduction of the morbific agent, in contradistinction to contagion, which then implies transmission by direct contact. Quain. See Contagious. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. infectieux. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Having qualities that may infect; communicable or caused by infection; pestilential; epidemic; as, an infectious fever; infectious clothing; infectious water; infectious vices. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where the infectious pestilence. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Corrupting, or tending to corrupt or contaminate; vitiating; demoralizing. [ 1913 Webster ]

It [ the court ] is necessary for the polishing of manners . . . but it is infectious even to the best morals to live always in it. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) Contaminating with illegality; exposing to seizure and forfeiture. [ 1913 Webster ]

Contraband articles are said to be of an infectious nature. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Capable of being easily diffused or spread; sympathetic; readily communicated; as, infectious mirth. [ 1913 Webster ]

The laughter was so genuine as to be infectious. W. Black.

Syn. -- See Contagious. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (a) Any disease caused by the entrance, growth, and multiplication of microorganisms in the body; a germ disease. It may not be contagious. (b) Sometimes, as distinguished from contagious disease, such a disease communicated by germs carried in the air or water, and thus spread without contact with the patient, as measles. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. In an infectious manner. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being infectious. [ 1913 Webster ]