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Webster's New World College Dictionary » influenza
influenza
influenza definition
in·flu·enza (in′flo̵̅o̅ en′zə)
noun
- an acute, contagious, infectious disease, caused by any of various viruses and characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract, fever, and muscular pain
- any of various viral diseases of domestic animals, characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract
Etymology: It, lit., an influence (because attributed by astrologers to the influence of the stars) < ML influentia: see influence
Related Forms:
- influenzal in′·flu·en′·zal adjective
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