1. (n.) The transmission of a disease from one person to another\, by direct or indirect contact.

2. (n.) That which serves as a medium or agency to transmit disease; a virus produced by, or exhalation proceeding from, a diseased person, and capable of reproducing the disease.

3. (n.) The act or means of communicating any influence to the mind or heart; as, the contagion of enthusiasm.

4. (n.) Venom; poison.

abomination annihilation atrocity bad befoulment biological death blight blood bloodletting bloodshed braining cessation of life clinical death contagion corruption crossing the bar crying evil curtains damage dealing death death death knell deathblow debt of nature decease defilement demise departure despoliation destroyer destruction destruction of life detriment dispatch dissolution doom dying ebb of life end end of life ending eternal rest euthanasia evil execution exit expiration extermination extinction extinguishment fate final summons finger of death flow of blood going going off gore grave grievance hand of death harm havoc hurt ill immolation infection injury jaws of death kill killing knell lapidation last debt last muster last rest last roundup last sleep leaving life loss of life making an end martyrdom martyrization mercy killing mischief outrage parting passing passing away passing over perishing poison poisoning pollution quietus release rest reward ritual killing ritual murder ruin ruination sacrifice sentence of death shades of death shadow of death shooting slaughter slaying sleep somatic death stoning summons of death taking of life the worst toxin undoing venom vexation virus woe wrong