zymotichttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zymotic_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezymotic, adj. & n.
First published 1921; not fully revised

zymoticadjective & noun

  1. adjective
      1. a.
        1842–
        A general epithet for infectious diseases, originally because regarded as being caused by a process analogous to fermentation (cf. zymosis n.); pertaining to this theory of disease; causing such disease.
        1. 1842
          The property of communicating their action, and effecting analogous transformations in other bodies, is..characteristic in these diseases, which it is proposed therefore to call..zymotic.
          W. Farr in 4th Annual Rep. Registrar-Gen. Births, Deaths, & Marriages Eng. 201
        2. 1851
          The zymotic doctrine of the Board of Health as to the cause of cholera.
          H. Mayhew, London Labour vol. II. 395/2
        3. 1896
          Since many morbid processes are analogous, if not akin, to fermentative processes,..the term zymotic has been applied to them,—a term, however, to be avoided rather than recommended.
          T. C. Allbutt et al., System of Medicine vol. I. 528
      2. b.
        1874–
        In etymological sense: Causing or consisting in fermentation, fermentative.
        1. 1874
          The zymotic action of yeast.
          A. B. Garrod & E. B. Baxter, Essentials of Materia Medica (ed. 4) 145
      3. c.
        1881–
        transferred. Containing putrefactive germs.
        1. 1881
          An éprouvette containing one cubic centimeter of cold water, previously ascertained to be zymotic, was evaporated to dryness.
          J. Tyndall, Ess. Floating Matter of Air 208
  2. noun
    1. 1842–
      A zymotic disease.
      1. 1842
        A single word, such as Zymotics, is required to replace..the long periphrasis ‘epidemic, endemic, and contagious diseases’.
        W. Farr in 4th Annual Rep. Registrar-Gen. Births, Deaths, & Marriages Eng. 201
      2. 1859
        People who have died of Zymotics.
        Household Words 8 January 122/2
      3. 1916
        Health of Belfast... In 1914 there were 51 notifications of typhus..; not a case of this zymotic has been reported in 1915.
        Lancet 8 January 112/1

zymotic, adj. & n. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.

zymotic, adj. & n. was last modified in June 2024.