contagious

Where does the word "contagious" come from? It comes from Latin contingere, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

Contagious’s story begins in Latin: contingere meant “to touch closely.” To touch closely, from com- (together) and tangere (to touch). Within Latin, it grew into contagio by ancient. A touching together, infection spread by contact, from contingere. It reached English by 1300s as contagious. Settled as the English word for a disease spread by contact, or something that spreads easily. Today, contagious means spreading from one person to another through contact, or easily spreading.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient contingere "to touch closely", to touch closely, from com- (together) and tangere (to touch).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient contagio "infection spread by contact", a touching together, infection spread by contact, from contingere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s contagious "spread by direct or indirect contact, or easily spreading", settled as the English word for a disease spread by contact, or something that spreads easily.