¦ ̷ ̷ (ˌ) ̷ ̷ ¦ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: New Latin, from herpes + virus
: any of a family (Herpesviridae) of DNA viruses (as cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus) that have a large capsid enveloped by glycoprotein and that include the causative agents of a number of diseases (as herpes simplex, chicken pox, and Marek's disease) characterized especially by blisters or vesicles on the skin and mucous membranes and often by recurrence sometimes after a long period of latency