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Glite Dictionary
epidemic meningitis

epidemic meningitis

6.7
A serious infection of the brain lining that spreads quickly and can kill if not treated
  • noun
  • /ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk ˌmɛnɪnˈdʒaɪtɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : meningitis epidémica
  • Without prompt treatment, epidemic meningitis can result in serious complications or death.

Examples

  • The outbreak of epidemic meningitis led health officials to launch a mass vaccination campaign.

  • In the early 20th century, epidemic meningitis caused widespread panic in several cities.

  • The epidemic meningitis outbreak in 2020 affected thousands.

  • Many lives were lost due to epidemic meningitis.

  • In the early 20th century, epidemic meningitis caused widespread panic in several cities.

  • The outbreak of epidemic meningitis led health officials to launch a mass vaccination campaign.

  • Without prompt treatment, epidemic meningitis can result in serious complications or death.

Synonyms

brain fever
vsepidemic meningitis
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An old name for a serious infection of the brain or its lining

is the form that appears in outbreaks affecting many people at once
cerebrospinal meningitis
vsepidemic meningitis
  • Archaic
9.1

A serious infection caused by bacteria that makes the thin layers around the brain and spinal cord swell

is the form that appears in outbreaks affecting many people at once

Surface Forms

epidemic meningitis singular
epidemic meningitises plural
epidemic meningitides plural

Morphology

epidemic + meningitis

The noun phrase is compositionally built: 'epidemic' (affecting many people) modifies 'meningitis' (inflammation/infection of the meninges), so the meaning — meningitis occurring as an outbreak affecting many people — is directly derivable from the parts. This straightforward modifier–noun combination is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand the MWE.

Etymology

Epidemic meningitis puts two ideas together: epidemic means a disease that spreads to many people quickly, and meningitis is an infection of the thin covering around the brain. So, epidemic meningitis means a very serious infection that happens in an 'outbreak' and can affect many people at once.