endemic

adj 1: (of disease or anything resembling a disease) constantly

present to greater or lesser extent in a particular

locality; "diseases endemic to the tropics"; "endemic

malaria"; "food shortages and starvation are endemic

in certain parts of the world" [ant: {epidemic}]

2: (ecology) native to or confined to a certain region; "the

islands have a number of interesting endemic species"

[ant: {cosmopolitan}]

3: originating where it is found; "the autochthonal fauna of

Australia includes the kangaroo"; "autochthonous rocks and

people and folktales"; "endemic folkways"; "the Ainu are

indigenous to the northernmost islands of Japan" [syn: {autochthonal},

{autochthonic}, {autochthonous}, {indigenous}]

n : a disease that is constantly present to a greater or lesser

degree in people of a certain class or in people living

in a particular location