the causative agent of a contagious or infectious disease, as a virus.
Origin
1645-55; < Latin, equivalent to contāg- (see contagion) + -ium-ium
British Dictionary definitions for contagium
contagium
/kənˈteɪdʒɪəm/
noun (pl) -gia (-dʒɪə)
1.
(pathol) the specific virus or other direct cause of any infectious disease
Word Origin
C17: from Latin, variant of contāgiōcontagion
contagium in Medicine
contagium con·ta·gium (kən-tā'jəm) n.pl.con·ta·gia (-jə) The direct cause, such as a bacterium or virus, of a communicable disease. Also called contagion.