Definition of the word miasma

The word "miasma" originates from the ancient Greek language, specifically from the root "mia" meaning "bad smell," and the suffix "-sma," which denotes suffusion or spreading. In Greek medicine, miasma referred to a poisonous exhalation or a noxious vapor emanating from decaying organic matter, sewage, or swamps. It was believed that these foul odors were responsible for the spread of diseases, such as malaria, cholera, and typhoid fever, which were prevalent in the 19th century. The concept of miasma as the cause of diseases was a prevalent theory in medicine until the mid-19th century when germ theory officially replaced it. Nonetheless, the term "miasma" continued to be used to describe unpleasant or malodorous environmental conditions, such as smog or pollution, or figuratively as a term for a negative atmosphere or an unpleasant occurrence.