6 results for: tarantism
tar·ant·ism
Audio Help [tar-uh
n-tiz-uh
m] Pronunciation Key
Audio Help [tar-uh
n-tiz-uh
m] Pronunciation Key –noun
| a mania characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to dance, esp. as prevalent in southern Italy from the 15th to the 17th century, popularly attributed to the bite of the tarantula. Also, tarentism. Compare tarantula (def. 3). |
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
tarantism
To learn more about tarantism visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| tar·an·tism
Audio Help (tār'ən-tĭz'əm) Pronunciation Key
n. A disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to dance, especially prevalent in southern Italy from the 15th to the 17th century and popularly attributed to the bite of a tarantula. [New Latin tarantismus, after Taranto.] |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
| tarantism | |
noun | |
| a nervous disorder characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to dance; popularly attributed to bite of the southern European tarantula or wolf spider |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
Main Entry: tar·an·tism
Pronunciation: 'tar-&n-"tiz-&m
Function: noun
: a dancing mania or malady of late medieval Europe popularly
regarded as being caused by the bite of the European tarantula (Lycosa tarentula)
| Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc. |
Tarantism
Tar"ant*ism\, n. [It. tarantismo: cf. F. tarentisme. See Tarantula.] (Med.) A nervous affection producing melancholy, stupor, and an uncontrollable desire to dance. It was supposed to be produced by the bite of the tarantula, and considered to be incapable of cure except by protracted dancing to appropriate music. [Written also tarentism.]| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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