morbifical
Definition
Adjective: - Causing disease: "morbifical" describes something that produces or brings about illness or disease. It is a formal, medical, or pathological term.
Usage Examples
- (The substance or factor that causes disease was recognized as a new virus.)
- (The disease-causing fumes from the swamp were thought to cause the fever epidemic.)
Advanced Usage
- "morbifical influence": the effect of something that tends to induce or spread disease.
- The morbifical influence of poor sanitation was evident in the high rates of infection. (The disease-causing effect of unsanitary conditions was clear from the many cases of illness.)
Variants and Related Words
Morbific (adj): a less common variant of morbifical, meaning causing disease.
- The morbific properties of the mold were studied in the laboratory. (The disease-causing qualities of the mold were examined.)
Morbidity (n): the condition of being diseased or the rate of disease in a population.
- The morbidity rate increased during the winter months. (The frequency of illness rose in winter.)
Synonyms
- Pathogenic: capable of causing disease (e.g., ).
- Nosogenic: relating to the origin or causation of disease (a rare, technical synonym).
- Unhealthy: harmful to health (less formal).
Related Idioms