hydrophobia

American  

[hahy-druh-foh-bee-uh] / ˌhaɪ drəˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

1. an extreme dread or fear of water, especially when associated with painful involuntary throat spasms from a rabies infection.

2. rabies.

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hydrophobia British  

/ ˌhaɪdrəˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. another name for rabies

2. a fear of drinking fluids, esp that of a person with rabies, because of painful spasms when trying to swallow Compare aquaphobia

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hydrophobia Scientific  

/ hī′drə-fō′bē-ə /

1. Abnormal fear of water.

2. Rabies.

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Word History

Hydrophobia is an older term for the disease rabies, and it means “fear of water.” Because of this name, many people think that rabies makes one afraid of water. In fact, this is not the case (although rabies does cause mental confusion of other kinds). The name hydrophobia comes from the fact that animals and people with rabies get spasms in their throat muscles that are so painful that they cannot eat or drink, and so will refuse water in spite of being very thirsty.

Other Word Forms

• hydrophobic adjective

Etymology

Origin of hydrophobia

First recorded in 1540–50; from Late Latin, from Greek hydrophobía; hydro- ¹, -phobia

Example Sentences

By the time of her death she was refusing to drink, despite desperate efforts to hydrate her, and the inquest was told this was sign of hydrophobia, a fear of water commons in rabies cases.

From BBC

Infectious diseases expert Katharine Cartwright, from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, previously told the inquest how this was a manifestation of hydrophobia - the fear of water - which is a symptom found only with rabies.

From BBC

“I don’t care,” Daisy said, “I’m scared just the same. We don’t know anything about monkeys. For all we know, they may have hydrophobia.”

From Literature

The dog or monkey or raccoon infected with rabies becomes wildly thirsty — yet at the same time also suffers from hydrophobia.

From Washington Times

One central symptom of the disease is hydrophobia, a fear of water.

From Salon