Ailurophobia

Ailurophobia
An abnormal and persistent fear of cats which produces an undue anxiety reaction even though sufferers realize their fear is irrational. Sufferers of ailurophobia may fear not only the scratch or bite of a cat, but also the "evil mystique" of cats as depicted in Halloween folklore and such literary works as Edgar Allen Poe's "The Black Cat." From the Greek "ailouros" (cat) and "phobos" (fear). Alternate spellings: "Aelurophobia," "elurophobia." The Greek word "ailourous" has also given us the English word "Ailuroidea," a zoological term for a group of carnivorous animals including cats, hyenas and civets. An alternate name for fear of cats: "Galeophobia."
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Morbid fear of or aversion to cats. [G. ailouros, cat, + phobos, fear]

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ai·lu·ro·pho·bia or ae·lu·ro·pho·bia -.lu̇r-ə-'fō-bē-ə n abnormal fear of cats

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ai·lu·ro·pho·bia (i-loor″o-foґbe-ə) [Gr. ailouros cat + -phobia] irrational fear of cats.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Ailurophobia — is a type of specific phobia. It is a persistent, irrational fear of cats. [http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=12227 Ailurophobia] ] It comes from the Greek ailouros (cat) and phobos (fear). A synonym is galeophobia, from the… …   Wikipedia

  • ailurophobia — (n.) morbid fear of cats, 1905, from Gk. phobia fear (see PHOBIA (Cf. phobia)) + ailouros cat, of unknown origin. Folk etymology connects it with aiolos quick moving + oura tail. Related: Ailurophobe (1914) …   Etymology dictionary

  • ailurophobia — [ā loor΄ə fō′bē ə, īloor΄ə fō′bē ə] n. [ModL < Gr ailouros, cat + PHOBIA] an abnormal fear of cats ailurophobe [ā loor΄əfōb΄, ī loor΄əfōb΄, ī lʉr΄əfōb΄] n …   English World dictionary

  • ailurophobia — /uy loor euh foh bee euh, ay loor /, n. Psychiatry. an abnormal fear of cats. Also, aelurophobia. [1905 10; < Gk aílouro(s) cat + PHOBIA] * * * …   Universalium

  • ailurophobia — noun An irrational fear or hatred of cats or other felines. Syn: galeophobia See Also: ailurophobe, ailurophile …   Wiktionary

  • ailurophobia — fear of cats Phobias …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • ailurophobia — n. abnormal fear of cats …   English contemporary dictionary

  • ailurophobia — [ˌʌɪljʊrə fəʊbɪə] noun extreme or irrational fear of cats. Derivatives ailurophobe noun Origin early 20th cent.: from Gk ailuros cat + phobia …   English new terms dictionary

  • ailurophobia — ai·lu·ro·pho·bia …   English syllables

  • ailurophobia — A fear of cats …   Grandiloquent dictionary

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