water fear

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A lack of affinity for water

   A lack of affinity for water; hydrophobia.

   • Both men and animals afflicted with rabies dread the appearance of water or any other liquid; hence the term, hydrophobia, or water-fear.
   • Those colloids which absorb considerable water are hydrophyllic colloids, that is, water-fond colloids; while those which absorb but little or none are hydrophobic colloids, that is, water-fear colloids.
   • This symptom which gave rise to the term hydrophobia or water-fear is the foundation of the cold water "cure."
2. 2

   Used other than figuratively or idiomatically

   Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see water, fear.

   • One type of water fear harbored by many youngsters is directly traceable to an unfortunate childhood experience.
   • […] flick of hair a silly song waving out of the waterfear.
   • This latter possibility seems particularly plausible from the perspective of the nonassociative model of water fear described previously.

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