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; see origin at hydro- ¹, -phobia

Explanation

Foaming at the mouth? Terrified of drinking water? You're displaying all the signs of hydrophobia, a common symptom of rabies. Unfortunately by this point you're probably beyond curing. Or reading online definitions. Take hydro (meaning "water") and phobia (meaning "fear") and you have hydrophobia — a fear of water. This could be a purely psychological issue that started in the lake at summer camp, or it could be physically motivated by disease — such as rabies.

Example Sentences

Hydrophobia, communicable between man and the lower animals.

From The Descent of Man by Darwin, Charles

Hydrophobia may not necessarily be from a bite; a previously-existing wound may be inoculated by the saliva alone, conveyed by licking.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)

"Rabies or Hydrophobia," T. M. Dolan, 1879, p.

From The Folk-lore of Plants by Dyer, T. F. Thiselton (Thomas Firminger Thiselton)

Examples of such diseases are:—Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Small Pox, Cholera, Yellow Fever, Tuberculous Disease, Ague, Hydrophobia, Cattle Plague, Anthrax; and many others might be enumerated whose dependence upon parasitic Germs is almost conclusively proved. 

From Addresses & Papers / Collectanea by Eade, Peter

Hydrophobia immediately ensued, and the next day terminated his existence.

From Curiosities of Medical Experience by Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)