1. (n.) The act or process of infecting.

2. (n.) That which infects, or causes the communicated disease; any effluvium, miasm, or pestilential matter by which an infectious disease is caused.

3. (n.) The state of being infected; contamination by morbific particles; the result of infecting influence; a prevailing disease; epidemic.

4. (n.) That which taints or corrupts morally; as, the infection of vicious principles.

5. (n.) Contamination by illegality, as in cases of contraband goods; implication.

6. (n.) Sympathetic communication of like qualities or emotions; influence.

abomination adulteration aerial infection afflatus airborne infection animating spirit animation animus atrocity bad bane befouling befoulment besmirchment blight carrier communicability contagion contagiousness contamination corruption crying evil cryptogenic infection damage defilement despoliation destruction detriment direct infection dirtying divine afflatus droplet infection dust infection enlivenment envenoming epidemiology evil exhilaration festering fire firing fouling genius grievance hand infection harm havoc hurt ill indirect infection infectiousness infusion injury inspiration mischief misuse moving spirit outrage perversion phytogenic infection poison poisoning pollution primary infection prostitution pyogenic infection ritual uncleanness secondary infection soiling subclinical infection suppuration taint the worst toxin vector venom vexation virus vitiation waterborne infection woe wrong zoogenic infection