epidemic
/ˌepɪˈdemɪk/·에피데믹·noun, adjective
流行病
GreekCEFR B2
词根
epi- (upon, among) + Greek 'dēmos' (people)
Greek epidēmia (a stay among the people, prevalence) → French épidémie → English epidemic
一句话
epi(在上) + dem(民) = '在民众之上铺开'. 希腊人称凡是越过个人、蔓延到整个村庄的事为 epidēmia。 所以 epidemic 字面是"留驻民间之物" — 不限于疾病。 把 epi- 换成 pan-(全),就是 pandemic ── 笼罩全民。
例句
The flu epidemic spread quickly.
流感疫情迅速蔓延。
Obesity is becoming an epidemic in many countries.
肥胖在许多国家蔓延成流行病。
Local hospitals prepare for the next epidemic.
本地医院为下一次疫情做准备。
同根词
democracydemographicpandemicendemicepidemiology