Viral
/ˈvaɪ.rəl/noun
Relating to, caused by, or spreading through a virus; also describing content that spreads rapidly online.
Did you know?Latin virus originally referred to poison, venom, or a harmful bodily secretion long before modern science gave it the biological meaning of an infectious agent.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weis-
“To melt away, flow, or produce a poisonous substance; a proposed root associated with venom and poison.”
Classical Latin
Latin
virus
“Poison, venom, or a slimy poisonous fluid.”
17th Century
Latin
virus
“A poisonous or infectious substance; the biological sense began developing in scientific usage.”
19th Century
English
virus
“An infectious agent, especially one smaller than a bacterium as understood by contemporary science.”
Early 20th Century
English
viral
“Relating to or caused by a virus.”
Late 20th–21st Century
English
viral
“Spreading rapidly from person to person, especially online, by analogy with infectious disease.”