Since I answered the first part of the question I may as well weigh-in on this part as well. Hopefully we all know by now that the so called Common Cold is caused by a virus. Please see the following link for a good Wikipedia Explanation of the etiology of the Common Cold:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_virus

As for how it got its name: Here is a sniper from the above website:

The name "common cold" came into use in the 16th century, due to the similarity between its symptoms and those of exposure to cold weather.[47] Norman Moore relates in his history of the Study of Medicine that James I continually suffered from nasal colds, which were then thought to be caused by polypi, sinus trouble, or autotoxaemia.[48]

In the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin considered the causes and prevention of the common cold. After several years of research he concluded: "People often catch cold from one another when shut up together in small close rooms, coaches, etc. and when sitting near and conversing so as to breathe in each other's transpiration." Although viruses had not yet been discovered, Franklin hypothesized that the common cold was passed between people through the air. He recommended exercise, bathing, and moderation in food and drink consumption to avoid the common cold.[49] Franklin's theory on the transmission of the cold was confirmed some 150 years later.[50]

The following provides some interesting background information and hypotheses on the role of Viruses and Evolution:

http://birdflubook.com/resources/Blerkom14.pdf

In 1979 I wrote a paper that was not submitted for publication on the role of viruses in primate evolution whereby I critiqued the work of Raul Benveniste and George Todaro (Father of Oncogene Theory) as pertains to their assertion that most of our ancestral Hominid Evolution occurred outside of Africa,i.e., an Asian Origin Hypothesis. They were early pioneers in DNA DNA hybridization work, and their work was very important due to not just excepting the orthodox view that most of our Evolutionary history occurred in Africa. Later, the Ancestral Eve Hypothesis combined molecular Biology and Linguistics in an attempt to to solve the problem. Due to fossil deposition conditions in East Africa we find a preponderance of the early pongid and hominid fossils. Nevertheless, absence of evidence does not necessarily mean evidence of absence. That being said, the latest finds in Africa have really strengthened the African Origin Hypothesis.

Regards,

Clark T. Clements

2-letter words

aa, ad, ae, ag, ai, am, an, at, aw, da, de, do, em, en, et, go, id, in, it, jo, ma, me, mi, mo, mu, na, ne, no, nu, od, oe, om, on, op, ow, pa, pe, pi, ta, ti, to, um, un, up, ut, we, wo

3-letter words

ace, act, add, ado, aga, age, ago, aid, aim, ain, ait, ama, ami, amp, amu, ana, and, ane, ani, ant, ape, apt, ate, awa, awe, awn, cad, cam, can, cap, cat, caw, cep, cod, cog, con, cop, cot, cow, cud, cue, cum, cup, cut, cwm, dad, dag, dam, dap, daw, dei, den, dew, did, die, dig, dim, din, dip, dit, doc, doe, dog, dom, don, dot, dow, dud, due, dug, dui, dun, duo, dup, eat, eau, ecu, ego, emu, end, eng, eon, eta, gad, gae, gam, gan, gap, gat, ged, gem, get, gid, gie, gin, gip, git, gnu, goa, god, got, gum, gun, gut, ice, imp, ion, jag, jam, jaw, jet, jeu, jig, jin, joe, jog, jot, jow, jug, jun, jut, mac, mad, mae, mag, man, map, mat, maw, med, men, met, mew, mid, mig, moa, mod, mog, mon, mop, mot, mow, mud, mug, mun, mut, nae, nag, nam, nap, naw, net, new, nim, nip, nit, nod, nog, nom, not, now, nut, oat, oca, odd, ode, one, ope, opt, oud, out, owe, own, pac, pad, pam, pan, pat, paw, pea, ped, peg, pen, pet, pew, pia, pic, pie, pig, pin, pit, piu, pod, poi, pot, pow, pud, pug, pun, put, tad, tae, tag, taj, tam, tan, tao, tap, tat, tau, taw, tea, ted, teg, ten, tet, tew, tic, tie, tin, tip, tit, tod, toe, tog, tom, ton, top, tot, tow, tug, tui, tun, tup, tut, twa, two, udo, ump, upo, uta, wad, wae, wag, wan, wap, wat, wed, wen, wet, wig, win, wit, woe, won, wot, wud

4-letter words

aced, acid, acme, acne, acta, adit, aeon, aged, agin, agio, agma, agon, ague, aide, amen, amia, amid, amie, amin, anew, anga, anoa, anta, ante, anti, aped, apod, atap, atma, atom, atop, aunt, auto, awed, cade, cadi, cage, caid, cain, came, camp, cane, cant, cape, capo, cate, cedi, cent, ciao, cine, cion, cite, coat, coda, code, coed, coin, coma, come, comp, cone, coni, cope, cote, coup, cued, cute, dace, dada, dado, dame, damn, damp, dang, data, date, dato, daut, dawn, dawt, dead, dean, deco, demo, dent, dice, dido, died, diet, dime, dine, ding, dint, dipt, dita, dite, djin, doat, doge, doit, dome, dona, done, dong, dopa, dope, dote, doum, down, duad, duce, duci, duct, dude, duet, duit, duma, dump, dune, dung, dunt, dupe, eddo, edit, egad, emic, emit, enow, epic, etic, etna, etui, gadi, gaed, gaen, gain, gait, gama, game, gamp, gane, gape, gate, gaud, gaum, gaun, gawp, gent, genu, geta, geum, gied, gien, gimp, gnat, gnaw, goad, goat, gone, gout, gowd, gown, guan, gude, guid, iced, icon, idea, idem, into, iota, item, jade, jane, jape, jato, jaup, jean, jeon, jiao, jimp, join, jota, judo, juga, jump, jupe, jute, mace, made, mage, magi, maid, main, mana, mane, mano, mate, matt, maud, maun, maut, mawn, mead, mean, meat, mend, meno, menu, meou, meow, meta, mica, mice, mien, mina, mind, mine, mint, mite, mitt, moan, moat, mode, modi, mope, mote, mott, moue, mown, muon, mute, mutt, name, naoi, nape, neap, neat, nema, nett, neum, newt, nice, nide, nipa, node, nodi, noma, nome, nope, nota, note, nowt, nude, odea, odic, ogam, omen, omit, once, oped, open, otic, owed, paca, pace, pact, padi, page, paid, pain, pane, pang, pant, pate, pawn, peag, pean, peat, pein, pend, pent, peon, pian, pica, pice, pied, pima, pina, pine, ping, pint, pion, pita, poem, poet, pome, pond, pone, pong, pout, puce, puja, puma, puna, pung, punt, putt, tace, taco, tact, tain, tame, tamp, tang, tapa, tape, tate, taut, team, teat, temp, tend, tent, tepa, tide, tied, time, tine, ting, tint, toad, toea, toed, toga, toit, tome, tone, tong, tope, topi, tote, tout, town, tump, tuna, tune, tung, twae, twig, twin, twit, unai, unci, unco, unde, undo, unit, unto, updo, upon, wade, wadi, wage, wain, wait, wame, wand, wane, want, watt, wean, wend, went, wept, wide, wimp, wind, wine, wing, wino, wipe, wite, woad, wont

5-letter words

aceta, acing, acned, acted, actin, acute, adage, adapt, adept, adieu, adman, admen, admit, adopt, adown, adunc, aecia, again, agape, agate, agent, agone, aided, aimed, ajuga, amain, amend, ament, amice, amide, amido, amiga, amigo, amine, amino, amnia, amnic, among, anima, anime, anode, antae, anted, antic, apace, apian, aping, apnea, atman, atone, attic, audad, audio, audit, await, awing, awned, cadet, cadge, caged, cajon, cameo, campi, campo, caned, canid, canoe, canto, caped, capon, caput, cawed, cento, cited, coapt, coati, coded, coden, coign, comae, comet, compt, comte, coned, conga, conge, conte, coped, copen, cotan, coted, cotta, coude, count, coupe, cowed, cuing, cumin, cupid, cutie, cutin, daman, dance, danio, dated, datto, datum, daunt, dawed, dawen, degum, deign, demit, demon, denim, depot, dewan, diced, dicot, dicta, dined, dinge, dingo, diode, ditto, diwan, dodge, dogie, dogma, doing, domed, domic, donga, donut, doped, doted, douce, douma, dowed, dowie, ducat, dunam, dunce, duomi, duped, dwine, edict, educt, enact, endow, entia, epact, gaddi, gadid, gamed, gamic, gamin, gamut, ganja, gaped, gated, gaunt, gemot, genic, genip, genoa, genom, genua, geoid, getup, giant, gipon, gnome, gonad, gonia, gowan, guaco, guano, guide, gutta, image, imago, imped, inapt, incog, indow, indue, inept, ingot, input, jaded, japan, japed, jaunt, jawan, jawed, jeton, jingo, joint, jowed, judge, juice, junco, junta, junto, jupon, macaw, maced, macon, magic, magot, maned, mange, mango, mania, manic, manta, mated, matin, matte, maund, mawed, meant, media, medic, menad, menta, miaou, miaow, midge, minae, mince, mined, monad, monde, monie, monte, moped, motet, motte, mound, mount, mowed, mucid, mucin, mungo, muted, muton, naiad, named, netop, nicad, nided, nomad, noted, notum, nudge, nudie, oaten, ocean, octad, octan, octet, odeum, odium, omega, onium, ontic, opine, oping, opium, opted, optic, ounce, outed, owing, owned, paced, paean, paeon, pagan, paged, pagod, paint, panda, paned, panga, panic, panto, pated, paten, patin, patio, pawed, pecan, pengo, petit, petti, petto, pewit, piano, picot, pieta, pined, pingo, pinot, pinta, pinto, piton, podia, poind, point, ponce, pound, pudic, punto, puton, putti, putto, tacet, tacit, taiga, taint, tamed, tango, tanto, taped, taunt, taupe, tawed, tawie, tecta, tegua, teind, tempi, tempo, tempt, tenia, tepid, tided, tigon, timed, tinct, tinea, tined, tinge, titan, togae, togue, toman, tondi, toned, tonga, tonic, toped, topic, toted, totem, towed, towie, tumid, tuned, tunic, twain, twang, twice, twine, umiac, umped, unapt, uncap, uncia, undid, ungot, unite, unmet, unmew, unpeg, untie, unwed, unwit, upend, waded, waged, wagon, waned, watap, widen, wigan, wince, wined, wiped, witan, wited, wodge, woman, women, wound

6-letter words

acajou, acedia, acetin, acetum, acnode, acting, action, acuate, acumen, adagio, addict, adding, adduce, adduct, adjoin, adnate, aecium, aeonic, agamic, agenda, agnate, agonic, agouti, aidman, aidmen, ajowan, amadou, amount, anadem, anatto, anemia, anemic, anodic, anomic, anomie, anopia, aoudad, apneic, apnoea, atomic, atoned, atonic, atopic, attain, attend, attune, atwain, auding, augend, augite, auntie, autoed, aweing, caddie, cadent, cadged, caeoma, caiman, camion, camped, canape, candid, cangue, canoed, canted, capita, capote, captan, catena, catgut, cation, catnap, catnip, catted, cattie, caudad, cawing, ceding, centum, cinema, coated, codeia, codein, coding, coedit, coempt, cogent, coigne, coined, comade, comate, coming, comped, conium, copied, coping, coteau, coting, cottae, couped, cowage, cowing, cowman, cowmen, cowpat, cowpea, cowpie, cuddie, cueing, dacoit, daemon, daimen, daimon, damage, damned, damped, dampen, danced, danged, dating, dauted, dautie, dawing, dawned, dawted, dawtie, deacon, decamp, decant, deduct, degami, demand, depict, detain, dewing, diadem, diatom, dictum, didact, dimout, dinged, dinted, doated, docent, dodgem, dognap, doited, domain, domine, doming, donate, dopant, doping, dotage, doting, dotted, dowing, downed, ducted, duding, dumped, dunged, dunite, dunted, duping, dwined, eating, emodin, enatic, encamp, enigma, epigon, etamin, gadoid, gained, gaited, gamine, ganoid, gateau, gaumed, gawped, geodic, giddap, gimped, gitano, gnawed, gnomic, goaded, goddam, godwit, gomuti, gonium, gotten, gowned, guaiac, guided, guidon, guimpe, guinea, guttae, gutted, gweduc, iceman, iguana, imaged, impact, impawn, impend, impone, impugn, impute, incage, incept, income, induce, induct, indued, ingate, inject, inmate, intact, iodate, jading, japing, jaunce, jauped, jawing, jetton, jicama, jocund, joined, jotted, jounce, jowing, judged, jugate, juiced, jumped, jutted, macing, madcap, madden, maenad, magian, magnet, magpie, maiden, manage, maniac, manioc, manito, manitu, mantic, mantid, mantua, mating, matted, mattin, mawing, meadow, mediad, median, medico, medina, meting, mewing, midden, midget, midgut, minced, minded, minted, minuet, minute, mitten, moaned, moated, modica, monied, moping, mowing, mucoid, mudcap, mudcat, muonic, mutant, mutate, mutine, muting, mutton, neumic, nidget, noetic, notate, notice, nougat, nudged, nutate, nutmeg, nutted, octane, octant, omenta, opiate, opined, optima, optime, opting, outact, outadd, outage, outate, outdid, outeat, outing, outman, outwit, pacing, padnag, pagoda, pained, pandit, panged, panted, pantie, patent, patina, patine, patted, patten, pattie, pawing, pawned, peanut, pectin, pedant, pentad, pigeon, pignut, pigout, pinata, pineta, pinged, pitman, pitmen, pitted, pneuma, podite, podium, poetic, pointe, pomace, pomade, ponced, ponded, ponged, pongid, ponied, potage, potent, potman, potmen, potted, pounce, pouted, ptotic, pumice, pundit, punted, putted, taenia, taipan, tamein, taming, tampan, tamped, tampon, tandem, tanged, tapeta, taping, tatami, tauted, tauten, tautog, tawing, tawpie, teacup, teapot, tectum, tedium, tenuti, tenuto, teopan, tewing, tinged, tinted, tipcat, tiptoe, titman, titmen, toecap, toeing, togaed, togate, toited, tomcat, tonged, tongue, toping, toting, toucan, touted, towage, towing, townie, tunica, twined, twinge, umping, unaged, unawed, uncage, unciae, unipod, united, unmade, unpaid, untame, untied, unwept, update, uptime, uptown, upwind, utopia, waddie, wading, waited, wanted, watape, weapon, widget, wigeon, winced, winded, windup, winged, witted, woaded, wonted, wotted

7-letter words

aconite, actuate, adapted, adenoid, adenoma, adjoint, adjudge, adjunct, adopted, agapeic, agatoid, agendum, agitate, agitato, agnatic, amentia, amidone, amniote, anaemic, angioma, animate, animato, antacid, antijam, antipot, apatite, apnoeic, apogean, apogeic, apomict, attuned, auction, audient, audited, augment, autoing, automan, automen, awaited, cajaput, cajeput, camping, campion, campong, candida, candied, cantdog, captain, caption, catmint, catting, caudate, caution, centimo, coadmit, coagent, coaming, coapted, coating, codding, codeina, cognate, coigned, coinage, compend, comping, compted, compute, conduit, congaed, cottage, counted, couping, ctenoid, cutdown, cuttage, cutting, dadoing, damaged, damping, daunted, dauting, dawting, deadpan, decagon, decapod, decidua, decuman, demigod, demonic, demotic, demount, dentoid, depaint, deucing, diamond, dictate, dittoed, doating, dogmata, donated, dotting, ducting, dudgeon, dumping, duodena, ectopia, educing, emoting, encomia, entopic, gametic, gateman, genomic, goddamn, gonadic, gowaned, guanaco, imponed, impound, imputed, incaged, indowed, induced, ingoted, iodated, jaconet, jaunced, jaunted, jauping, jetting, jointed, jotting, jounced, jumping, juttied, jutting, madding, magenta, magnate, magneto, maintop, managed, mandate, manioca, manitou, manteau, matting, mattoid, mediant, megapod, megaton, mendigo, meouing, meowing, metopic, miaoued, miaowed, midtown, mintage, minuted, mitogen, moating, monacid, monadic, montage, mounded, mounted, mudding, mueddin, muntjac, mutagen, mutated, mutined, nametag, nematic, nepotic, nictate, noctuid, nomadic, notated, notepad, noticed, nutated, nutmeat, oddment, omitted, opiated, opuntia, outdate, outgain, outgnaw, outpace, outwait, outwent, outwept, outwind, paction, padding, pageant, painted, pandect, pandied, panicum, pantoum, patient, patinae, patined, patting, pawnage, peacing, peacoat, pemican, petting, petunia, picoted, pigment, pimento, pinetum, pintada, pintado, podding, poinded, pointed, pomaded, potamic, pottage, potting, pounced, pounded, pouting, ptomain, pudding, pudenda, pumiced, putamen, puttied, putting, tacnode, taction, tainted, tamandu, tamping, tampion, tangoed, tapetum, tapioca, taunted, tauting, teaming, tedding, tegmina, tetanic, timeout, timpana, timpano, tinamou, tincted, tiptoed, toadied, togated, tomenta, tonemic, tonetic, tongued, totemic, touting, tunicae, twanged, twinged, twinjet, unacted, unaided, unaimed, uncaged, uncoded, undated, unitage, unjaded, unmated, unpaged, untamed, updated, utopian, wadding, wagoned, wantage, wattage, wattape, wedding, wendigo, wetting, widgeon, windage, wipeout, womaned, wotting, wounded

8-letter words

acetamid, aconitum, actuated, adapting, adaption, adducent, adducing, adjacent, adjoined, adjutant, admitted, adopting, aduncate, agitated, agminate, amidogen, amounted, amputate, anatomic, anecdota, animated, antiatom, antidote, antipode, apatetic, apogamic, aptitude, attained, autacoid, autocade, automate, cameoing, campagne, campaign, canopied, capitate, catamite, catenoid, caudated, coapting, coattend, cogitate, coinmate, comanage, comedian, compting, computed, contagia, contempt, daemonic, decoding, deducing, demoniac, demoting, deputing, diamante, dictated, document, dogmatic, dognaped, dominate, dopamine, downtime, duetting, eduction, egomania, enigmata, guidance, gumption, impacted, impawned, impotent, impudent, impugned, incudate, indagate, inducted, inputted, japonica, jaundice, judgment, maenadic, magnetic, manatoid, mandated, mandioca, megawatt, montaged, mutating, mutation, neumatic, nictated, oceanaut, outacted, outdance, outdated, outpaced, outpaint, pagandom, paginate, pandemic, patagium, patinate, pedantic, pentomic, piedmont, pittance, pomading, poundage, ptomaine, punctate, putamina, taconite, tamponed, tegumina, tempting, tetanoid, tunicate, umangite, uncoated, undamped, undotted, unmatted, unpoetic, unpotted, unwitted, upcoming, updating

9-letter words

actuating, actuation, acuminate, adducting, adduction, amputated, antidoted, auctioned, audiotape, autogenic, automated, automatic, candidate, captained, captioned, catamount, cautioned, coadapted, coempting, cogitated, comanaged, companied, compendia, competing, computing, conjugate, contagium, decamping, decapodan, deducting, deduction, demantoid, diaconate, dominated, educating, education, egomaniac, geomantic, impounded, indagated, jaundiced, judgmatic, magnitude, mutagenic, outacting, outadding, outdanced, outdating, outeating, outgained, outgnawed, outpacing, outwaited, outwinded, paginated, patinated, pneumatic, tunicated, unadapted, undamaged

10-letter words

adjudicate, admittance, amputating, amputation, autodidact, automating, campaigned, coadmitted, conjugated, deputation, outpainted, unadmitted, undogmatic

2038 words found.