pathogens
|path/o/gens|
B2
/ˈpæθədʒənz/
(pathogen)
disease-causing organism
Etymology
Etymology Information
'pathogen' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'pathos,' meaning 'suffering,' and 'genes,' meaning 'born of.'
Historical Evolution
'pathos' and 'genes' combined in Greek to form 'pathogenes,' which eventually became the modern English word 'pathogen.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'born of suffering,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'microorganisms that cause disease.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
microorganisms that cause disease.
Pathogens can be bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/02/27 10:44