Middle English Dictionary Entry
contāǧiǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | contāǧiǒun n. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A communicable disease; (b) harmful or corrupting influence, contamination.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)100a/a : Þis contagioun passiþ in to þe childe, as it were by lawe of heritage.
b
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.72 : My soule in prison lighte, That troubled is by the contagioun Of my body and also by the wighte Of erthely lust.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)13b/a : Aungels..beþ aliene and clene of al erþeliche contagioun.
- c1480(1422) Lydg.SD (Add 48031)50/26 : This manly man Iulius..throughe the contagion of his necligence..was aftirward full froward to be recovered.