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   epidemic

   /ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/

   noun

   • 1. a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time: "a flu epidemic" Similar outbreakplaguescourgeinfestationwidespread illness/diseasepandemicepizooticformal:recrudescenceboutade
   • ▪ a sudden, widespread occurrence of a particular undesirable phenomenon: "an epidemic of violent crime" Similar spaterashwaveexplosioneruptionoutbreakoutburstflare-upcrazefloodtorrentburstblazeflurryupsurgeupswingupturnincreasegrowthrisemushroomingrare:ebullitionboutade

   adjective

   • 1. (of a disease) occurring widely in a community at a particular time: "epidemic diseases"
   • ▪ (of something bad) widespread in a community: "the problem has become epidemic as people spend more time online"

   Word Origin early 17th century (as an adjective): from French épidémique, from épidémie, via late Latin from Greek epidēmia ‘prevalence of disease’, from epidēmios ‘prevalent’, from epi ‘upon’ + dēmos ‘the people’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. epidemically adverb

   Scrabble Points: 15

   • E

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   • P

     3

   • I

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   • D

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   • E

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   • M

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   • I

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   • C

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