BioConcepts

immunity

• The state of being insusceptible or resistant to a noxious agent or process, esp. a pathogen or infectious disease, which may occur naturally or be produced by prior exposure or immunization (OED 2008).
  category protection

  1603

  What be those then, good Colotes, who are accompanied with this immunity, that they can neither be hurt nor diseased? [Greek: τίσιν οὖν ἀληθῶς ἕπεται τὸ μὴ τραυματίζεσθαι μηδὲ νοσεῖν, ὦ Κωλῶτα;]

  Holland, P. (1603). The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, the Morals Written by the Learned Philosopher Plutarch of Chæronea. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine translations and the French: 1116 [Adversus Colotem].
  

  1652

  The immunity from certain diseases consisteth in the air, not in the bodies of the people.

  Boate, G. (1652). Irelands Naturall History: 179.
  

  1753

  We have it in our power to preserve the body in a degree of immunity from disease, or at least, of dislodging its cause.

  Hird, W. (1753). Remarks upon Pestilence and Pestilential Diseases: 42.