Archiv: Merriam-Webster (corporation)


06.09.2021 - 16:18 [ Language Log / University of Pennsylvania ]

Merriam-Webster gives „vaccine“ a new definition

(April 30, 2021)

Prefatory note: In this post, I take the noun „vaccine“ as the basic word under discussion, but also consider other cognate terms („vaccinate“, „vaccination“).

Here‘s a standard dictionary entry for „vaccine“:

n.

1. any preparation of weakened or killed bacteria or viruses introduced into the body to prevent a disease by stimulating antibodies against it.
2. the virus of cowpox, used in vaccination, obtained from pox vesicles of a cow or person.
3. a software program that helps to protect against computer viruses.

[1800–05; < New Latin (variolae)vaccīnae cowpox = vacc(a) cow + -īnae, feminine pl. of -īnus -ine] Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary (cited) Let us compare that with the new M-W entry for "vaccine": : a preparation that is administered (as by injection) to stimulate the body‘s immune response against a specific infectious disease:

13.08.2021 - 09:55 [ Language Log / University of Pennsylvania ]

Merriam-Webster gives „vaccine“ a new definition

(April 30, 2021)

Prefatory note: In this post, I take the noun „vaccine“ as the basic word under discussion, but also consider other cognate terms („vaccinate“, „vaccination“).

Here‘s a standard dictionary entry for „vaccine“:

n.

1. any preparation of weakened or killed bacteria or viruses introduced into the body to prevent a disease by stimulating antibodies against it.
2. the virus of cowpox, used in vaccination, obtained from pox vesicles of a cow or person.
3. a software program that helps to protect against computer viruses.

[1800–05; < New Latin (variolae)vaccīnae cowpox = vacc(a) cow + -īnae, feminine pl. of -īnus -ine] Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary (cited) Let us compare that with the new M-W entry for "vaccine": : a preparation that is administered (as by injection) to stimulate the body‘s immune response against a specific infectious disease: