arachnophobia
/æˌɹæk.nəˈfəʊ.bɪ.ə/
arachnophobia · noun — an abnormal or irrational fear of arachnids, especially spiders.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
arachnophobia is pronounced /æˌɹæk.nəˈfəʊ.bɪ.ə/.
Why “arachnophobia” is a great word
A persistent and excessive dread of arachnids, most commonly manifested as an intense fear of spiders. From the Ancient Greek ἀράχνη (arákhnē, 'spider') and φόβος (phóbos, 'fear'), via the combining forms arachno- and -phobia; first attested in English in 1925. Unlike 'entomophobia' (which names a dread of insects, a separate class) or 'araneophobia' (the more precise doublet meaning specifically a fear of spiders), arachnophobia extends its cold grasp to all eight-legged kin: scorpions, ticks, mites. It is the visceral recoil from a shadow in the bath, the paralyzed scrutiny of a single silk strand trembling in a corner, the primal recoil from a threadbare shape in the ceiling—a body's ancient, pre-rational knowledge that what hangs motionless in shadow is not waiting, but watching.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From arachno- + -phobia, from Ancient Greek ἀράχνη (arákhnē, “spider”) + φόβος (phóbos, “fear”). Piecewise doublet of araneophobia.
noun
- An abnormal or irrational fear of arachnids, especially spiders.e.g.“(Editor’s note: Those who suffer from claustrophobia, kabourophobia, arachnophobia or thalassophobia are advised to skip the above trailer.)” — 2024 August 11, Andrew Torgan, Daniel Wine, “Start your week smart: Gymnast stripped of medal, Brazil plane crash, Trump campaign hack, fighting inside Russia”, in CNN, archived from the original on 1
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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