noun
- Plural of contagium; agents or substances that transmit disease from one organism to another.
Usage: technical/medical; archaic or formal usage; modern English typically uses 'pathogens' or 'infectious agents'
Examples
- Medieval physicians theorized about invisible contagia spreading plague through the air.
- The study examined various contagia responsible for epidemic diseases.
- Early microscopy helped scientists identify the contagia causing cholera.
- Sanitation practices were designed to eliminate contagia from contaminated water sources.