History of Virus

	Revision 4 . . (edit) December 9, 2001 7:29 pm by Taral [Capitalization and link cleanup]
	Revision 3 . . (edit) June 22, 2001 3:25 pm by WojPob [making link work]
	Revision 1 . . March 21, 2001 10:15 pm by Lee Daniel Crocker

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Difference (from prior major revision) (minor diff, author diff)

Changed: 1c1

Derived from the Latin virus (which referred to several unpleasant things like snake venom and pond slime) the word was first used to describe Biological viruses when these were first discovered to be infectious disease-causing agents smaller than bacteria that reproduce with the help of a host cell. It is also used metaphorically to refer to other parasitically-reproducing things like ideas. The term computer virus, once metaphorical, is now another well-defined sense of the word.

Derived from the Latin virus (meaning roughly "poison") the word was used to describe biological viruses when these were first discovered to be infectious disease-causing agents smaller than bacteria that reproduce with the help of a host cell. It is also used metaphorically to refer to other parasitically-reproducing things like ideas. The term computer virus, once metaphorical, is now another well-defined sense of the word.

Changed: 3c3

Despite frequent claims to the contrary, the only correct English plural of the word used in any of these senses is viruses.

Despite frequent claims to the contrary, the only correct English plural of the word used in any of these senses is viruses. See, for example, [1].

Changed: 5c5

See Biological virus, Computer virus.

See biological virus, computer virus