Part 5809

<p><b>6.</b> <def>Sympathetic communication of like qualities or emotions; influence.</def>

<blockquote>Through all her train the soft <b>infection</b> ran. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Mankind are gay or serious by <b>infection</b>. <i>Rambler.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Infection</er>, <er>Contagion</er>.</syn> <usage> -- <i>Infection</i> 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 <i>contagion</i>, which then implies transmission by direct contact. <i>Quain</i>. See <er>Contagious</er>.</usage>

<h1>Infectious</h1> <Xpage=758>

<hw>In*fec"tious</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>infectieux</ets>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Having qualities that may infect; communicable or caused by infection; pestilential; epidemic; <as>as, an <ex>infectious</ex> fever; <ex>infectious</ex> clothing; <ex>infectious</ex> air; <ex>infectious</ex> vices.</as></def>

<blockquote>Where the <b>infectious</b> pestilence. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Corrupting, or tending to corrupt or contaminate; vitiating; demoralizing.</def>

<blockquote>It [the court] is necessary for the polishing of manners . . . but it is <b>infectious</b> even to the best morals to live always in it. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>Contaminating with illegality; exposing to seizure and forfeiture.</def>

<blockquote>Contraband articles are said to be of an <b>infectious</b> nature. <i>Kent.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Capable of being easily diffused or spread; sympathetic; readily communicated; <as>as, <ex>infectious</ex> mirth</as>.</def>

<blockquote>The laughter was so genuine as to be <b>infectious</b>. <i>W. Black.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- See <er>Contagious</er>.</syn>

<h1>Infectiously</h1> <Xpage=758>

<hw>In*fec"tious*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In an infectious manner.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>Infectiousness</h1> <Xpage=758>

<hw>In*fec"tious*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being infectious.</def>

<h1>Infective</h1> <Xpage=758>

<hw>In*fect"ive</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>infectivus</ets> pertaining to dyeing.]</ety> <def>Infectious.</def>

<i>Beau. & Fl.</i>

<blockquote>True love . . . hath an <b>infective</b> power. <i>Sir P. Sidney.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Infecund</h1> <Xpage=758>

<hw>In*fec"und</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>infecundus</ets>: cf. F. <ets>inf\'82cond</ets>. See <er>In-</er> not, and <er>Fecund</er>.]</ety> <def>Unfruitful; not producing young; barren; infertile.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Evelyn.</i>

<h1>Infecundity</h1> <Xpage=758>