virulency
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vir·u·lent
(vîr′yə-lənt, vîr′ə-)adj.
1.
a. Characterized by, causing, or promoting the rapid onset of severe illness. Used of a disease or toxin.
b. Capable of causing disease by aggressively interfering with the immune system of the host. Used of a pathogen.
2. Extremely hostile or malicious: virulent criticism; a virulent bigot.
[Middle English, from Latin vīrulentus, from vīrus, poison.]
vir′u·lence, vir′u·len·cy n.
vir′u·lent·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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| Noun | 1. | virulency - extreme harmfulness (as the capacity of a microorganism to cause disease); "the virulence of the plague" microorganism, micro-organism - any organism of microscopic size harmfulness, injuriousness - destructiveness that causes harm or injury |
| 2. | virulency - extreme hostility; "the virulence of the malicious old man" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
virulency
nounThe quality or state of feeling bitter:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.