Malaria
/məˈlɛər.i.ə/noun
A disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
Did you know?In ancient Rome, it was believed that swampy areas were cursed with foul air, leading to the first associations of disease with the environment.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
malaria
“Literally 'bad air', referring to the noxious vapors thought to cause disease.”
Middle Ages
Italian
mala aria
“The same concept of 'bad air', used to describe the unhealthy atmosphere of marshlands.”
17th Century
English
malaria
“Adopted into English as a medical term for the disease associated with swampy environments.”
19th Century
English
malaria
“Refined to specifically denote the illness caused by the Plasmodium parasites transmitted by mosquitoes.”
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