Saint Vitus' dance

noun

Saint Vi·​tus' dance -ˈvī-təs- How to pronounce Saint Vitus' dance (audio) -ˈvī-tə-səz- How to pronounce Saint Vitus' dance (audio)
variants or Saint Vitus's dance or St. Vitus' dance or St. Vitus's dance
: chorea
especially : sydenham's chorea

Word History

Etymology

St. Vitus, 3rd century Christian child martyr

First Known Use

1621, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Saint Vitus' dance was in 1621

Dictionary Entries Near Saint Vitus' dance

Cite this Entry

“Saint Vitus' dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Saint%20Vitus%27%20dance. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

Saint Vitus' dance

noun
Saint Vi·​tus' dance
variants or St. Vitus' dance or Saint Vitus dance or St. Vitus dance or Saint Vitus's dance or St. Vitus's dance
: chorea
especially : sydenham's chorea
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!