Definitions

1. noun

The doctrine that a disease is caused by a parasitic organism, especially an insect, living on or in the body of the host.

“The theory of epizoism was later proven to be incorrect, but it contributed significantly to the understanding of parasitic diseases.”

2. noun

In botany, the growth of a part of a plant, such as a leaf or flower, on a different plant or on a foreign object.

“The epizoism of the orchid’s flower on the tree trunk was a rare phenomenon observed by botanists.”