fomes

F4O1M3E1S1
UK/ˈfəʊmiːz/US/ˈfoʊ.miːz/

noun

Morbid matter created by a disease.

“Toys are common fomites.”

Similar
fomite
OriginLatin fōmes →
Scrabble 10
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Meanings

nounfomes (plural fomites)

plural fomites

  1. obsoletemedicineMorbid matter created by a disease.

    If this putrid ferment could be more immediately corrected, a stop would probably be put to the flux, and the fomes of the disease likewise removed.

    1773, Gentleman's Magazine, number 43, page 554
  2. archaicmedicineSynonym of fomite: a substance able to communicate infection between people.

    Toys are common fomites.

    1 more example

    I cannot say that I have known it spread from fomites.

    1803, Medical & Physical Journal, number 10, page 213

    Synonyms: fomite

  3. archaicfigurativelyAnything which similarly facilitates the spread of something similarly deleterious.

    Naturall tempers... prove a great Fomes of sinne.

    1658, John Owen, Of Temptation, page 126

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSynonym of fomite: a substance able to communicate infection between people.

Similar
fomite
Also see
fomite

Origin

  1. Latinfōmes“fomite”
  2. Englishfomes

From medical Latin fōmes (“fomite”), a figurative extension of its original sense of kindling, tinder, etc. Gradually supplanted in use by fomite, a mistaken backformation of its plural form fomites, from Latin fōmitēs.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

fomes. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fomes

MLA

“fomes.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fomes. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fomes,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fomes.

Source: fomes on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.