epizootic

See also:epizoötic

English

Alternative forms

• epizoötic(pentasyllabicsenses)
• epizoodic(tetrasyllabicsenses)
• epizudic(tetrasyllabicsenses)

Etymology

FromFrenchépizootique,animal equivalent ofepidemic,fromépizootie,irregularly formed fromAncient Greekἐπί(epí)+ζῷον(zôion,“animal”). Bysurface analysis,epi-+‎zo-+‎-otic.Use of the word in the second sense, "an ailment", was likely originally a reference to a particular epizootic ailment.Both senses are attested since at least the 1800s, and the pronunciation with five syllables is explicitly attested since then as well.Dialectal pronunciation of the second sense with four syllables is attested since at least the 1910s in spellings like "epizudic"and is suggested by 1870s references to a shortened form of the word," zooty ".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):/ɛpɪ.zəˈwɒtɪk/,/ɛpɪ.zoʊˈɒtɪk/

  • Audio(Southern England):

    (file)

• (dialectal,especially in the sense ‘an ailment’)IPA^(key):/ɛpɪˈzuːdɪk/

Noun

epizootic(pluralepizootics)

1. (epidemiology)Anoccurrenceof a disease ordisorderin apopulationof non-humananimalsat afrequencyhigher than that expected in a given time period. Compareepidemic.

   At the same time as an epidemic of the flu broke out among the people, anepizooticof the swine flu broke out among their pigs.

   • 1901July 5,H. Watkins-Pitchford,“The Umvoti Outbreak”, inThe Agricultural Journal and Mining Record‎^[1],volume 4, number 9, page247:

     […]but it can be asserted with confidence that Natal will for some years yet be free from the possibility of an invasion of the disease to the same degree as theepizooticof 1896 and 1897.

2. A particularepizooticdisease.
   • 1856,On the epizootic lately affecting lambs,inThe Veterinarian; or Monthly Journal of Veterinary Science for 1856,volume XXIX-II, fourth series, edited by Morton and Simonds, page 450:

     A surgeon in the town has also informed me, that a person requested him to prescribe for some lambs affected with theepizootic,and he gave them Epsom salts and opium, with, as he said, very good effect.

3. (dialectal,humorous,often in theplural)Adiseaseorailment(of humans).

   Johnny's not doing so well today, I think he caught theepizootic.

   • 1873,Jeramiah Juniur Blows His Bugle,inGem of the West and Soldiers' Friend,seventh year, January 1873, page 378:

     Last fall, when Dad had theEpizootic;no, I don't mean that, tho I did think he had em, but when the Chicargar hosses got theEpizootic,Dad got all fired mad caus that xpressman didn't cum round to move the rest of our traps.

   • 1977,Samuel M. Steward, editor,Dear Sammy: Letters from Getrude Stein and Alice Toklas,page237:

     Never do I have colds — but I got theepizootics(?) and sneezed my head off — twenty three times yesterday.

   • 1986,Geneva Bair Wilson,As the Anvil Rings,page78:

     "My Laws, Minnie! She's got spots! I guess you've got theepizootics."

   • 1998,David Pietrusza,Judge and Jury, the life and times of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis,page348:

     Then along comes somebody else who says you've gotepizooticand he can cureepizooticand he doesn't have to cut out the epi.

Usage notes

Used in the second sense to mean "an ailment", it is often preceded by the definite article ( "the epizootic" ), is often plural in form ( "the epizootics" ), and is sometimes written "(the)epizoodic".

Do not confuseepizootic(epi-+zoo-+-otic) withepizooicorepizoic(epi-+zoo-+-ic).

Adjective

epizootic(comparativemoreepizootic,superlativemostepizootic)

1. (epidemiology)Like or having to do with anepizootic:epidemicamonganimals.

   Epizootic plague occurred in the mice following introduction of rats from Europe.

   • 1913September, J. J. Desmond, “An enzootic of contagious abortion in cattle”, inAmerican Journal of Veterinary Medicine,volume VIII, number 9, page470:

     As much attention is being drawn to the subject ofepizooticabortion in bovines, [...]

   • 1914,Thomas Shaw,Management and Feeding of Sheep,page398:

     These are known respectively as the hair lung worm and the thread lung worm. The former of these is probably the more widely diffused, but the latter is moreepizooticin flocks than the former.

   • 1919March 19, author not named,The Mud Larks,inPunch, or the London Charivari,Volume 156,2004 Gutenberg edition,

     I handed it back to him, explaining that he had come to the wrong shop--unless he were a horse, of course. If he were and could provide his own nosebag, head-stall and Army Form 1640, testifying that he was guiltless of mange, ophthalmia orepizooticlymphangitis, I would do what I could for him.

   • 1933,British Veterinary Journal,volume89,page74:

     The parasites important in Britain do, however, by themselves constitute a most serious source of loss to pig breeders — probably at least as serious as that caused by the various more spectacular but moreepizooticbacterial diseases.

2. (geology,rare)Containingfossils.
   • 1799,Richard Kirwan,Geological Essays,pages160–161:

     Hence their primary division is intoprimevalandsecondaryorEpizootic.And theepizooticmountains are still farther distinguishable intooriginalandderivative.

3. Relating toepizoa;epizoic.

Antonyms

• enzootic

Derived terms

• antiepizootic
• epizootic hemorrhagic disease
• epizootically
• epizootize

Related terms

• epizoology
• panzootic
• zootic
• epidemic
• pandemic
• endemic

Romanian

Etymology

BorrowedfromFrenchépizootique.

Adjective

epizooticmorn(feminine singularepizootică,masculine pluralepizootici,feminine and neuter pluralepizootice)

1. epizootic

Declension

Declension ofepizootic

		singular			plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine	masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative/ accusative	indefinite	epizootic		epizootică	epizootici	epizootice
	definite	epizooticul		epizootica	epizooticii	epizooticele
genitive/ dative	indefinite	epizootic		epizootice	epizootici	epizootice
	definite	epizooticului		epizooticei	epizooticilor	epizooticelor