pandemic

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A disease that spreads across many countries and affects a very large number of people.

   The pandemic forced schools and businesses to close around the world.

2. 2
   adj

   Spreading over a wide area and affecting many people.

   The pandemic outbreak of flu in 1918 killed millions.

From Ancient Greek πάνδημος (pándēmos, “of or belonging to all the people, public”) + English -ic (suffix forming adjectives from nouns with the sense ‘of or pertaining to’). πάνδημος is derived from παν- (pan-, prefix meaning ‘all, every’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂- (“to protect, shepherd”)) + δῆμος (dêmos, “the common people; free citizens, sovereign people”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂- (“to divide, share”)). Compare Late Latin pandēmus (“affecting all the people, general, public”).

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