tarantism

American  

[tar-uhn-tiz-uhm] / ˈtær ənˌtɪz əm /

Or tarentism

noun

1. a mania characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to dance, especially as prevalent in southern Italy from the 15th to the 17th century, popularly attributed to the bite of the tarantula.

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tarantism British  

/ ˈtærənˌtɪzəm /

noun

1. a nervous disorder marked by uncontrollable bodily movement, widespread in S Italy during the 15th to 17th centuries: popularly thought to be caused by the bite of a tarantula

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Other Word Forms

• tarantist
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of tarantism

From the New Latin word tarantismus, dating back to 1630–40. See Taranto , -ism

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tarantism

Tarantella, the name of an Italian folk dance, derives from tarantism, a form of hysteria marked by compulsive movement that swept the country’s southern region starting in the 15th century.

From New York Times ● Apr. 26, 2018

The modern medical name for it is tarantism, after the wild Italian folk dance, the tarantella.

From Time Magazine Archive

Indeed, Dr. H. Chomet, who diligently investigated the matter, never succeeded in finding a case of tarantism, nor was he able even to obtain a glimpse of one of these insects.

From Primitive Psycho-Therapy and Quackery by Robert Means Lawrence

Under such favourable circumstances, it is clear that tarantism must every year have made further progress. 

From The Black Death The Dancing Mania by B. G. (Benjamin Guy) Babington

Many physicians and historians have written on this subject, and with singular unanimity have endorsed music as a curative agent for tarantism.

From Primitive Psycho-Therapy and Quackery by Robert Means Lawrence

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