St. Vitus dance
- noun
- /seɪnt ˈvaɪtəs dæns/
- Archaic
:
baile de San Vito
- The doctor diagnosed the child with St. Vitus dance after observing her uncontrollable limb movements.
Examples
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Historically, St. Vitus dance terrified families because of its sudden, jerky motions in children.
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Cases of St. Vitus dance are now rare due to advances in treating rheumatic fever.
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The doctor diagnosed her with St. Vitus dance.
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Children suffering from St. Vitus dance often have irregular movements.
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The doctor diagnosed the child with St. Vitus dance after observing her uncontrollable limb movements.
-
Historically, St. Vitus dance terrified families because of its sudden, jerky motions in children.
-
Cases of St. Vitus dance are now rare due to advances in treating rheumatic fever.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A movement problem in children after rheumatic fever causing quick involuntary movements of the face, hands, and feet
A condition that makes children have quick, uncontrolled body movements
Surface Forms
Morphology
St. + Vitus + dance
Although the component 'dance' transparently evokes movement, the expression is an eponym (named after Saint Vitus) referring to a specific medical condition (Sydenham's chorea) rather than a literal dance. A B1 learner who knows the parts would at best infer 'some kind of dance or movement' but would not predict the clinical, involuntary-movement meaning, so the connection is only partial.
Etymology
St. Vitus dance comes from old Europe, where children with sudden, jerky movements were taken to the church of St. Vitus and often looked as if they were doing a wild dance. That's why today St. Vitus dance means 'involuntary, rapid, irregular movements'.