In*fec"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. infection, L. infectio a dyeing.]
1.
The act or process of infecting.
There was a strict order against coming to those pits, and that was only to prevent infection.
De Foe.
2.
That which infects, or causes the communicated disease; any effluvium, miasm, or pestilential matter by which an infectious disease is caused.
And that which was still worse, they that did thus break out spread the infection further by their wandering about with the distemper upon them.
De Foe.
3.
The state of being infected; contamination by morbific particles; the result of infecting influence; a prevailing disease; epidemic.
The danger was really very great, the infection being so very violent in London.
De Foe.
4.
That which taints or corrupts morally; as, the infection of vicious principles.
It was her chance to light
Amidst the gross infections of those times.
Daniel.
5. Law
Contamination by illegality, as in cases of contraband goods; implication.
6.
Sympathetic communication of like qualities or emotions; influence.
Through all her train the soft infection ran.
Pope.
Mankind are gay or serious by infection.
Rambler.
Syn. -- Infection, Contagion. -- Infection is often used in a definite and limited sense of the transmission of affections without direct contact of individuals or immediate application or introduction of the morbific agent, in contradistinction to contagion, which then implies transmission by direct contact. Quain. See Contagious.
© Webster 1913.