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Infect vs Variolate - What's the difference?

infect | variolate |

As verbs the difference between infect and variolate

is that infect is to bring into contact with a substance that causes illness (a pathogen) while variolate is to infect with smallpox.

As adjectives the difference between infect and variolate

is that infect is (obsolete) infected while variolate is having the appearance of smallpox.

infect

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To bring into contact with a substance that causes illness (a pathogen).
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katie L. Burke
  • , title= In the News , volume=101, issue=3, page=193, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola.}}
  • To make somebody enthusiastic about one's own passion.
  • Antonyms

    * disinfect

    Derived terms

    * infection * infectible

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (obsolete) Infected.
  • * 1602 , , I. iii. 187:
  • And in the imitation of these twain, / Who, as Ulysses says, opinion crowns / With an imperial voice, many are infect .
    ----

    variolate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having the appearance of smallpox
  • Verb

    (variolat)
  • To infect with smallpox