foodborne-illness
UK[ˈfuːd.bɔːn ˈɪl.nəs]US[ˈfuːd.bɔːrn ˈɪl.nəs]
n
An illness caused by consuming contaminated food or drink.
Morpheme Breakdown
food
borne
illness
food
nourishment
borne
carried
illness
sickness
Etymology
The term is a modern compound, primarily from Old English roots, that precisely describes a mode of disease transmission. 'Food' originates from the Old English 'fōda', related to the act of feeding. 'Borne' derives from the Old English 'beran', meaning to carry or bear, and in this context, indicates the vector of transmission. 'Illness' comes from Old English 'ī(e)lnes', meaning badness or wickedness, which evolved to signify a state of poor health. The compound 'foodborne illness' logically constructs the concept of a sickness that is carried and delivered to the body through the medium of consumed nourishment.
Analysis
Structure: food (nourishment) + borne (carried) + illness (sickness)
food: Old English; the substance consumed for nutritional support.
borne: Old English; past participle of 'bear', meaning carried or transmitted.
illness: Old English; a state of poor health or disease.
Examples
Health officials are investigating a recent outbreak of foodborne illness linked to the restaurant.
Proper cooking and handling of poultry can significantly reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
The most common symptoms of a foodborne illness include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.