[ep.i.dem.ic] adj [F epidemique, fr. MF, fr. epidemie, n., epidemic, fr. LL epidemia, fr. Gk epidemia visit, epidemic, fr. epidemos visiting, epidemic, fr. epi- + demos people--more at demagogue] (1603) 1: affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time "typhoid was ~"
2. a: excessively prevalent b: contagious
4. "~ laughter"
3: of, relating to, or constituting an epidemic "the practice had reached ~ proportions" -- ep.i.dem.i.cal adj -- ep.i.dem.i.cal.ly adv -- ep.i.de.mic.i.ty n
[2]epidemic n (1799) 1: an outbreak of epidemic disease
2: an outbreak or product of sudden rapid spread, growth, or development; specif: a natural population suddenly and greatly enlarged