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tarantismmore about tarantism

tarantism


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Tarantism  \Tar"ant*ism\,  n.  [It.  tarantismo:  cf  F.  tarentisme. 
  See  {Tarantula}.]  (Med.) 
  A  nervous  affection  producing  melancholy,  stupor,  and  an 
  uncontrollable  desire  to  dance.  It  was  supposed  to  be 
  produced  by  the  bite  of  the  tarantula,  and  considered  to  be 
  incapable  of  cure  except  by  protracted  dancing  to  appropriate 
  music.  [Written  also  {tarentism}.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  tarantism 
  n  :  a  nervous  disorder  characterized  by  an  uncontrollable 
  impulse  to  dance;  popularly  attributed  to  bite  of  the  S 
  European  tarantula  or  wolf  spider 




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