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Webster 1913 Edition


Hydrophobia

Hyˊdro-pho′bi-a

,
Noun.
[L., fr. Gr. [GREEK];
ὕδωρ
water + [GREEK] fear: cf. F.
hydrophobie
.]
(Med.)
(a)
An abnormal dread of water, said to be a symptom of canine madness; hence:
(b)
A viral disease trransmitted by a bite from, or inoculation with the saliva of, a rabid creature, of which the chief symptoms are, a sense of dryness and constriction in the throat, causing difficulty in deglutition, and a marked heightening of reflex excitability, producing convulsions whenever the patient attempts to swallow, or is disturbed in any way, as by the sight or sound of water; rabies; canine madness.
[Written also
hydrophoby
.]

Webster 1828 Edition


Hydrophobia

HYDROPHO'BIA


Definition 2024


hydrophobia

hydrophobia

English

Noun

hydrophobia (plural hydrophobias)

  1. (pathology) An aversion to water, as a symptom of rabies; rabies itself.
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.12:
      Cato, who scorned both death and fortune, could not abide the sight of a looking glasse or of water; overcome with horrour, and quelled with amazement, if by the contagion of a mad dog he had fallen into that sicknesse which physitians call hydrophobia, or feare of waters.
  2. (psychology, colloquial) Fear of water

Usage notes

Fear of water is technically called aquaphobia, so not to be confused with rabies.

Translations


Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ὑδροφοβία (hudrophobía).

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /hy.droˈpʰo.bi.a/, [hʏ.drɔˈpʰɔ.bi.a]

Noun

hydrophobia f (genitive hydrophobiae); first declension

  1. hydrophobia

Related terms

References