Hydrophobia

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ËŒhʌɪdɹəˈfəʊbɪə/
• US IPA: /ËŒhaɪdɹəˈfoÊŠbɪə/
• Rhymes: -əʊbiÉ™

Origin

From Latin hydrophobia, from Ancient Greek ὑδροφοβία.

Full definition of hydrophobia

Noun

1. (pathology) An aversion to water, as a symptom of rabies; rabies itself.
• 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.12:Cato, who scorned both death and fortune, could not abide the sight of a looking glasse or of water; overcome with horrour, and quelled with amazement, if by the contagion of a mad dog he had fallen into that sicknesse which physitians call hydrophobia, or feare of waters.
2. (psychology, colloquial) Fear of water

Usage notes

Fear of water is technically called aquaphobia, so not to be confused with rabies.