zymotic
- adjective
- /zaɪˈmɒtɪk/
- Archaic
- In the 19th century, many diseases were believed to have a zymotic origin.
Examples
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Doctors studied the zymotic diseases prevalent in the area.
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The zymotic outbreak in the village was alarming.
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The scientist studied the zymotic processes that transform sugar into alcohol.
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The winemaker monitored the zymotic activity during the initial stages of fermentation.
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Historically, many doctors focused on zymotic diseases when trying to control outbreaks in cities.
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The research highlighted the link between environmental factors and zymotic infections.
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Infectious disease experts discussed the implications of zymotic pathogens in public health.
How Infectious
Surface Forms
Morphology
zymotic = zymosis (opaque) = zymo + tic
The combining form 'zymo-' and the noun 'zymosis' are obscure to average learners, so the relation to 'zymotic' is not derivable from known English bases.
Etymology
The word zymotic comes from the Greek root zym-, which means 'leaven' or 'ferment'. Think of yeast making dough rise or sugar turning into alcohol — doctors long ago thought some illnesses were like a 'fermenting' process, so zymotic came to mean a disease that spreads or is infectious.