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Definition of: epidemic
(ep′ə·dem′ik) adjective
Affecting many in a community at once: also ep′i·dem′i·cal.
—noun
1. Med. A disease temporarily prevalent in a community or throughout a large area.
2. Any widespread excitement, influence, etc. [<F épidémique <épidémie a plague <LL epidemia <Gk. epidēmia <epi- upon + dēmos people]
—ep′i·dem′i·cal·ly adverb
—ep·i·de·mic·i·ty (ep′ə·də·mis′ə·tē) noun
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