lyssophobia

American  

[lis-uh-foh-bee-uh] / ˌlɪs əˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of going insane.

2. an extreme fear of rabies.

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Other Word Forms

• lyssophobic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of lyssophobia

First recorded in 1885–90; from Greek lyss(a) “rage, rabies, madness” + -o- + -phobia

Example Sentences

Men doubtless occasionally develop lyssophobia under such an influence, but animals do not contract genuine rabies.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

When the poison has actually invaded the brain, this can be looked on as a palliative measure only, but in the many cases of lyssophobia it may put an instant stop to the affection.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

The most difficult to distinguish from the genuine disease are those cases in which hydrophobia occurs as a disease of the imagination, the result of fear—the lyssophobia or hydrophobie non-rabique of the writers.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various