🇮🇹Italian Source WordCode: IT

infettivo

Pronunciation / Transliteration: /in.fetˈti.vo/

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Infectious/ɪnˈfɛk.ʃəs/
adjectiveCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #2450 frequency
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🇮🇹 Example Sentence in Italian:

"Il suo entusiasmo era davvero infettivo."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As adjective
  1. 1

    Caused by or capable of being communicated by infection; liable to be transmitted to people, organisms, etc. through the environment.

    "The medical staff ensured that patients with infectious diseases were kept in isolation wards."
  2. 2

    Likely to spread and influence others rapidly, especially referring to a mood, feeling, or quality.

    "Her infectious enthusiasm for the project quickly motivated the entire design team."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Late Latin infectiosus, stemming from infectus, the past participle of inficere (to stain, taint, or spoil), combining in- (into) and facere (to make). Entering Middle English via Old French in the late 14th century, the word originally pertained to the contamination of disease before expanding metaphorically in the 17th century to describe contagious emotions, behaviors, or enthusiasm.

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