[con.ta.gion] n [ME, fr. MF & L; MF, fr. L contagion-, contagio, fr. contingere to have contact with, pollute] (14c) 1 a: a contagious disease b: the transmission o f a disease by direct or indirect contact c: a disease-producing agent (as a virus)
2. a: poison b: contagious influence, quality, or nature c: corrupting influence or contact 3 a: rapid communication of an influence (as a doctrine or emotional state) b: an influence that spreads rapidly