Miasma

1: a vaporous exhalation0 formerly believed to cause disease also : a heavy vaporous emanation (see EMANATION sense 2)0 or atmospherea miasma of tobacco smoke

2: an influence or atmosphere that tends to deplete or corrupt freed from the miasma of poverty— Sir Arthur Bryant the enervating miasma of fear — The Times Literary Supplement (London)also: an atmosphere that obscures: FOG Mirriam Webster Online0 Miasma theory was the scientific explanation for disease prior to germ theory. Miasma means ‘pollution’ but is a holistic word both physical and metaphysical. Miasma could emanate from swamps, night air, ships, dead bodies, ill-will and immorality. Prisons in particular were believed to generate a lot of Miasma due to the festering, forgotten people inside.

(1)

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miasma

(2)

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhalation

(3)

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emanation

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