The word "infect" is commonly misspelled due to the tricky "ct" combination. The correct spelling is /ɪnˈfɛkt/ (in-fekt). It is important to note the silent "c" which can easily be overlooked. The word means to contaminate with a disease or virus. It is of Latin origin and stems from the word "infectus", meaning "stained or polluted." To remember the correct spelling, one can focus on the prefix "in-" meaning "into" and the root word "fect" which comes from the Latin "facere" meaning "to do" or "to make."
The term "infect" refers to the action of transmitting or spreading a disease, illness, or infection from one organism to another. It involves the introduction of a pathogen, such as a virus, bacteria, or parasite, into a susceptible host organism. This transfer can occur through direct contact, such as physical touch with an infected individual, or indirect contact, such as exposure to contaminated surfaces, air, or water.
When an organism becomes infected, the pathogen can proliferate within the host, leading to various symptoms and signs of illness. Infections can affect different body parts or systems, ranging from mild conditions to severe diseases. The severity depends on factors such as the type and virulence of the pathogen, the immune response of the host, and other underlying health conditions.
Infectious diseases can be classified as communicable or non-communicable. Communicable diseases are those that can be transmitted from one person to another, either directly or indirectly, while non-communicable diseases do not spread from person to person. Understanding the means of transmission, methods of prevention, and effective treatment strategies for infectious diseases is crucial for public health and medical professionals in order to control their spread and minimize their impact on individuals and communities.
To cause infection.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
To taint with disease; to corrupt; to communicate bad qualities to.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "infect" originates from the Latin term "inficere", which consists of two parts: "in", meaning "in" or "into", and "facere", meaning "to do" or "to make". The combining of these two Latin elements gives "inficere", which originally referred to the act of coloring or staining something. Over time, the term evolved to also include the idea of corrupting or tainting something or someone. The modern English word "infect" emerged from this Latin root, reflecting the concept of introducing a harmful substance or agent into a person, organism, or environment.