miasmatic


mi·as·ma

M0267600 (mī-ăz′mə, mē-)n. pl. mi·as·mas or mi·as·ma·ta (-mə-tə) 1. A noxious atmosphere or influence: "The family affection, the family expectations, seemed to permeate the atmosphere ... like a coiling miasma" (Louis Auchincloss).2. a. A foul-smelling vapor arising from rotting organic matter, formerly thought to cause disease.b. A thick vaporous atmosphere or emanation: wreathed in a miasma of cigarette smoke.
[Greek, pollution, stain, from miainein, to pollute.]
mi·as′mal, mi′as·mat′ic (mī′əz-măt′ĭk), mi·as′mic (-mĭk) adj.