- hydrophobia
- 1392, from L.L. hydrophobia (Cælius Aurelianus, c.420), from Gk. hydrophobia (Celsius, 50 C.E.), from hydrophobos "dreading water," from hydr-, stem of hydros "water" + phobos "dread, fear" (see phobia). So called because human sufferers show aversion to water and have difficulty swallowing it.