Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun Pathology.
- an infectious disease of dogs, cats, and other animals, transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected animal and usually fatal if prophylactic treatment is not administered: caused by an RNA virus of the rhabdovirus group; hydrophobia.
noun
- pathol an acute infectious viral disease of the nervous system transmitted by the saliva of infected animals, esp dogs. It is characterized by excessive salivation, aversion to water, convulsions, and paralysisAlso called: hydrophobia, lyssa
1590s, from Latin rabies “madness, rage, fury,” related to rabere “be mad, rave” (see rage (v.)). Sense of “extremely fatal infectious disease causing madness in dogs” was a secondary meaning in Latin. Known hydrophobia in humans.
n.
- An infectious, highly fatal viral disease of warm blooded animals that attacks the central nervous system; symptoms include excitement, aggressiveness, and dementia, followed by paralysis and death.
- A usually fatal infectious disease of warm-blooded animals caused by a virus of the genus Lyssavirus that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, such as a dog or bat and can be prevented in humans by a vaccine. See Note at hydrophobia.
An acute disease, caused by a virus, which attacks the central nervous system and results in paralysis and death if not treated promptly. Rabies is transmitted to humans by the bite of an animal infected with the disease.