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A.Word.A.Day--ecdemic

ecdemic (ek-DEM-ik) adjective

Of foreign origin; introduced from outside; pertaining to a disease that's observed far from the area it originates in.

[From Greek ec-, variant of ex- (out of) + -demic (on the pattern of epidemic), from demos (people).]

"In order to meet the requirements of Ningbo's large-scale economic development, after opening to the world, Ningbo has been striving for discovering, introducing and training various kinds of outstanding talents in many ways. First of all, it tries its best to accept college graduates and secondary technical school graduates. During 1981 and 2000, 131,000 graduates have been employed in Ningbo area. Secondly, it widely introduces all kinds of ecdemic talents." Ningbo Today, Web site.

An epidemic is a widespread disease in a certain population while something endemic is one that is confined to a specific people or place. An ecdemic disease, on the other hand, is one brought from outside. But this academic discussion is not what makes the word "ecdemic" interesting here. What is it? You find out. All this week's words are bound by a common thread and your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to unravel it.

Send your answers to garg AT wordsmith.org. One answer per person, please. Good luck, and look for the solution here next week. -Anu

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