rabies

/ˈɹeɪ.biːz/

ɹEꞮ · biːz (2 syllables)

English Noun Top 14,582

Definition

An infectious disease caused by species of Lyssavirus that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals and people, characterised by abnormal behaviour such as biting, excitement, aggressiveness, and dementia, followed by paralysis and death.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin rabiēs (“rage, madness, fury”). Doublet of rage.