st. vitus's dance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/HistoricalTechnical/Historical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “st. vitus's dance” mean?
A now-obsolete term for Sydenham's chorea, a neurological disorder causing rapid, involuntary jerky movements.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A now-obsolete term for Sydenham's chorea, a neurological disorder causing rapid, involuntary jerky movements.
Historically, a term for any disorder involving involuntary, dance-like movements, often linked to medieval mass psychogenic illness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Virtually no contemporary difference; both regions use 'Sydenham's chorea' in modern medicine. The possessive form may vary (St. Vitus' dance vs. St. Vitus's dance).
Connotations
Connotes historical medicine, superstition, and pre-modern understanding of disease.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech or writing in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “st. vitus's dance” in a Sentence
patient + suffer from + St. Vitus's danceThe term + St. Vitus's dance + refers to + conditionHistorians + describe + the epidemic + as + St. Vitus's danceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “st. vitus's dance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The historical records suggest several villagers were dancing as if possessed, later said to be St. Vitus's dancing.
- He was diagnosed and subsequently St. Vitus's danced for months.
American English
- The colonists described individuals as 'St. Vitus's dancing' during the outbreak.
- Children who contracted the fever might begin to St. Vitus's dance.
adverb
British English
- His arms moved St. Vitus's-dance-ily across the table. (Highly contrived, archaic)
American English
- She jerked St. Vitus's-dance-wise. (Highly contrived, archaic)
adjective
British English
- The patient exhibited St. Vitus's dance-like movements.
- It was a classic St. Vitus's dance presentation.
American English
- She had a St. Vitus's-dance symptomology.
- The physician noted the St. Vitus's-dance affliction.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical or medical history texts discussing obsolete terminology.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used only to reference historical diagnoses; modern neurology uses 'Sydenham's chorea'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “st. vitus's dance”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “st. vitus's dance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “st. vitus's dance”
- Using it as a current medical diagnosis.
- Confusing it with Huntington's disease or other choreas.
- Misspelling as 'St. Vitas dance' or 'St. Vitus dance'.
- Using it to describe simple fidgeting.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but the term is obsolete. It referred to what is now called Sydenham's chorea, a neurological complication of rheumatic fever.
You can develop Sydenham's chorea, but it is rare in developed countries. No doctor would diagnose it as 'St. Vitus's dance'.
Because the rapid, involuntary, and purposeless movements of the limbs and face resemble a jerky, uncontrolled dance.
St. Vitus was a Christian martyr. He became the patron saint of dancers and those with neurological disorders, leading to the association with this condition.
A now-obsolete term for Sydenham's chorea, a neurological disorder causing rapid, involuntary jerky movements.
St. vitus's dance is usually technical/historical/medical in register.
St. vitus's dance: in British English it is pronounced /ˌseɪnt ˈvaɪtəsɪz ˈdɑːns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌseɪnt ˈvaɪtəsɪz ˈdæns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated; historical references only.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
St. Vitus is the patron saint against oversleeping and epilepsy; imagine him dancing to ward off uncontrollable movements.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS UNCONTROLLABLE PERFORMANCE (the body 'dances' against its will).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'St. Vitus's dance' be MOST appropriately used today?