infectiousnessn.

1578 T. Cooper Thesaurus (new ed.) at Vulgo The seruing one of another, and the infectiousnesse [L. contagio ipsa] did spreade and multiplie diseases.

1624 J. Donne Deuotions 93 The greatest misery of sicknes is solitude; when the infectiousnes of the disease deterrs them who should assist, from coming; Euen the Phisician dares scarse come.

1685 R. Boyle Exper. Disc. Salubr. Air iii. 89 in Ess. Effects Motion Sometimes the plague ceases, or at least very notably abates of its infectiousness and malignity, in far less time.

1749 D. Hartley Observ. Man i. iv. 489 Frequent Conversation with devout Persons, and frequent Reading of devout Books, have great Efficacy also, from the Infectiousness of our Tempers and Dispositions.

1772 S. Maese School III. xliii. 231 Happily she has no suspicion of the infectiousness of her disorder.

1854 Lancet 8 Apr. 409/1 Asserted prominent examples of the infectiousness or contagiousness of cholera on the one hand, and..unhesitating dogmatic affirmations of its absolute non-infectiousness on the other hand.

1876 T. Bryant Pract. Surg. (ed. 2) I. iii. 134 Some classification of the partially infectious tumours by their kinds of infectiousness may be agreed upon.

1922 E. von Arnim Enchanted April (1989) ii. 26 She had a curious infectiousness. She led one on.

1975 Math. Biosci. 23 33 For many diseases, the infectiousness of an individual depends upon the time elapsed since his own infection.

2004 Independent (Compact ed.) 21 Jan. 47/1 The [Ebola] virus is transmitted by direct contact with body fluids..and its deadly infectiousness means that medical staff caring for patients have to practise strict ‘barrier nursing’ techniques wearing full gowns, gloves and masks.