— epidemically , adv. — epidemicity /ep'i deuh mis"i tee/ , n.
/ep'i dem"ik/ , adj.
1. Also, epidemical . (of a disease) affecting many persons at the same time, and spreading from person to person in a locality where the disease is not permanently prevalent.
2. extremely prevalent; widespread.
n.
3. a temporary prevalence of a disease.
4. a rapid spread or increase in the occurrence of something: an epidemic of riots.
[ 1595-1605; obs. epidem ( y ) ( epidemia epidemía staying in one place, among the people, equiv. to epi- EPI- + dêm ( os ) people of a district + -ia -Y 3 ) + -IC ]