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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Infect, Infek(k, Infeck, v. P.t. and p.p. infectit, infekkit, infeckit; also p.t. infect, p.p. infect, infec(c)it. [ME. (c 1374, Chaucer), L. infect-, ppl. stem of inficere. Cf. Infect p.p.]

1. tr. To infect with some disease or malady. Also in fig. use.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 51.
A serpent fel … That of his aynd infect the ayre 1481 Prestwick B. Rec. 29.
Andro Sauer is fundin daili reperand to Kingcase … & is abill till infect the hale toune a1570-86 Dunb. Maitl. F. lxiii. 59.
The scorpioun hes done infect Maister Johne Clerk and James Authinlek Fra ballat making and tragidie 1513 Doug. Conscience 25.
For thé Symon infectit halie kirk 1562-3 Winȝet II. 21/6.
Quhen the venom of the Arrianis had infect … the haill warld a1570-86 Maitl. F. xlv. 36.
Ane scabbit scheip infectis all the hale flok 1584 Melvill 202.
Sum of yow … , lyk desperat pest folks, … travelles to seduce and infect sic as ar haillabsol. 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 6.
Euerie brutall is maist infectand … to thair awin kynd(b) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 343.
Our carnale lust Of hevinlie influens infekkis the fontane Ib. 391.
Contagious company infekkis devocioun 1490 Irland Mir. I. 86/11.
That morsell was to thame as wenome and infekkit thar body c1500-c1512 Dunb. iv. 57.
That scorpioun fell [Death] has done infek Maister Johne Clerk, and James Afflek, Fra balat making and trigide 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 37.
Vennom … Quhilkis infekkis the flesch, blude, and banys Ib. iii. iv. 49.
With thar vyle mowthis infek thai al our mete c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 140 b/40.
The stynk that thay mak in the wind Will Flanderis infeck 1533 Boece vii. xii. 245.
The pelagiane heresy, quhilk had infekkit grete parte of the Britan kinrik 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7840.
It wald greitlie baith faith and fame infekabsol. 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 35.
Seand hir [a serpent] reddy to stang and to infek

2. Frequent in the p.p.: Infected (in literal or figurative use).(a) 1498 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 72.
That [certain places] … are infectit with this contagious infirmity c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvi. 35.
The frutles erde, … The ayr infectit Ib. lxx. 24.
In folie we ar so fer infectit 1535 Stewart 27455.
He wes … Infectit far with auerice 1567 Sat. P. vii. 106.
Gif his fantasie war sa far infectit a1585 Maitl. Q. xxix. 8.
With gredines ar infectit all staitis 1602 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 298.
Thomas Hannay … past to Glasgw to clenge the persouns infectit with the pest 1607 Stirling B. Rec. I. 115.
The baillie … to tak up ane cathologe of all the persones quhais houssis hes bene infectit(b) a1500 Bernardus 70.
Qwha is infekyt with gulositie … It leffys tham nocht 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 274/2.
The infirmite of the grantgor that he was infekkit with 1529 Stirling B. Rec. I. 37.
The baillies sall pas … and wesy Jenne Millar [etc.] … [to learn] gife tha be infecit with lypyr, becaus it is suspecit that tha ar infecit of the sammyn seknes 1533 Boece xi. vii. 419.
Nowthir in this tyme nor eftir mony ȝeris Scottis war infekkit with cartis and dise 1535 Stewart 15796.
With auerice he wes sa far infeccit, Quhilk causit him to be baith blind and blekit a1570-86 Maitl. F. xcix. 8.
With gredenes infeckit ar all statis a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1354.
Luke quhat laiks for his releif Or furder he infeck 1606 Foulis Acc. Bk. xlviii.
The nureis infectit in the pest … and sche decessit upoun the Tyesday

3. intr. To become infected. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxv. 30.
Quhill all the air infeck of thair pvsoun a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1354 (Wr.).
Ere further he infect