lyssa
9.9
A serious virus that attacks the brain and nerves of animals and people and spreads by animal bites
- noun
- /ˈlɪsə/
- Specialized
:
lisis
Synonyms
4
3.5
A serious disease spread by the bite of an infected animal that attacks the nervous system
is the alternative traditional name used for the same disease
9.9
An old name for rabies, a dangerous disease spread by animal bites
is the modern common name for the same illness rather than the old term
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word lyssa comes from the ancient Greek lyssa, which means 'madness' or 'rage' and was the name of a spirit thought to make animals go wild. So lyssa became a name for rabies because the disease can make animals behave wildly and violently.