4. That which taints or corrupts morally; as, the infection of vicious principles. It was her chance to light Amidst the gross infections of those times. Daniel.
5. (Law)
Defn: Contamination by illegality, as in cases of contraband goods; implication.
6. Sympathetic communication of like qualities or emotions;
influence.
Through all her train the soft infection ran. Pope.
Mankind are gay or serious by infection. Rambler.
Syn. — Infection, Contagion. — Infection is often used in a definite and limited sense of the transmission of affections without direct contact of individuals or immediate application or introduction of the morbific agent, in contradistinction to contagion, which then implies transmission by direct contact. Quain. See Contagious.
INFECTIOUS
In*fec"tious, a. Etym: [Cf. F. infectieux.]
1. Having qualities that may infect; communicable or caused by infection; pestilential; epidemic; as, an infectious fever; infectious clothing; infectious air; infectious vices. Where the infectious pestilence. Shak.
2. Corrupting, or tending to corrupt or contaminate; vitiating; demoralizing. It [the court] is necessary for the polishing of manners . . . but it is infectious even to the best morals to live always in it. Dryden.
3. (Law)
Defn: Contaminating with illegality; exposing to seizure and
forfeiture.
Contraband articles are said to be of an infectious nature. Kent.