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

Other physicians and naturalists have delivered their sentiments on tarantism, but as they have not possessed an enlarged knowledge of its history their views do not merit particular exposition. 

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

Finally, tarantism has declined more and more in modern times, and is now limited to single cases. 

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

This form of "possession," then, passed out of the supernatural domain, and became known as "tarantism."

From History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom by Andrew Dickson White

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