Epidemic Definition
ĕpĭ-dĕmĭk
epidemics
adjective
Prevalent and spreading rapidly among many individuals in a community at the same time.
Webster's New World
Widely prevalent.
Epidemic discontent.
American Heritage Medicine
Like or having to do with an epidemic; widespread.
Epidemic hysteria occurred upon the incumbent’s reelection.
Wiktionary
noun
epidemics
A widespread disease that affects many individuals in a population.
Wiktionary
An epidemic disease.
Webster's New World
The rapid spreading of such a disease.
Webster's New World
A rapid, widespread occurrence or growth.
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Epidemic
Noun
Singular:
epidemic
Plural:
epidemicsOrigin of Epidemic
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French épidémique from épidémie an epidemic from Old French espydymie from Medieval Latin epidēmia from Greek epidēmiā prevalence of an epidemic disease from epidēmos prevalent epi- epi- dēmos people dā- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From French épidémique, from épidémie, from Latin epidemia, from Ancient Greek ἐπιδήμιος (epidēmios), from ἐπί (epi, “upon”) + δῆμος (dēmos, “people”).
From Wiktionary
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