hydrophobia

C2 Topic:Health & Medicine

Also spelled hydrophoby

US /ˌhaɪdrəˈfoʊbiə/ UK /ˌhaɪdrəˈfəʊbiə/ See IPA manual

Freq #84228

Meanings

1

noun
rabies, especially as formerly named for the painful difficulty in swallowing liquids that it can cause

Nineteenth-century physicians often referred to rabies as hydrophobia.
2

noun
an abnormal and intense fear of water

Her hydrophobia made even the thought of crossing the river distressing.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · rabies, especially as... rabies

2 noun · an abnormal and intense... aquaphobiafear of water

Word family

Derived forms pseudohydrophobia

Related forms hydrophobehydrophobicphobia

Etymology

From Middle English idroforbia, through Latin hydrophobia, from Ancient Greek hydrophobia. The Greek formation combines hydro- ("water") with -phobia ("fear"), from phobos ("fear"). Its historical use for rabies reflects the aversion to swallowing liquids caused by spasms in advanced disease.

Topics

Health & Medicine

External links

# hydrophobia

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌhaɪdrəˈfoʊbiə/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌhaɪdrəˈfəʊbiə/
**Frequency rank:** 84228

## Meanings
1. rabies, especially as formerly named for the painful difficulty in swallowing liquids that it can cause
2. an abnormal and intense fear of water

## Examples
- Nineteenth-century physicians often referred to rabies as hydrophobia.
- Her hydrophobia made even the thought of crossing the river distressing.

## Synonyms
- rabies
- aquaphobia
- fear of water

## Derived Forms
- pseudohydrophobia

## Related Forms
- hydrophobe
- hydrophobic
- phobia

## Roots and Affixes
- Affix: -phobia - fear

## Etymology
From Middle English idroforbia, through Latin hydrophobia, from Ancient Greek hydrophobia. The Greek formation combines hydro- ("water") with -phobia ("fear"), from phobos ("fear"). Its historical use for rabies reflects the aversion to swallowing liquids caused by spasms in advanced disease.

## Topics
- Health & Medicine

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