A.Word.A.Day --astraphobia

A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact

Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

astraphobia

PRONUNCIATION:

(as-truh-FO-bee-uh)

MEANING:

noun: An abnormal fear of lightning and thunder.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Greek astrape (lightning). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ster- (star) that is also the source of star, asterisk, asteroid, astrology, disaster, stellar, constellation, Persian sitareh (star), and the names Stella and Esther.

NOTES:

Also known as astrapophobia and brontophobia (from Greek bronte-, thunder, which also gave us brontosaurus).

USAGE:

"In the USA, it is estimated around 10 per cent of people suffer from astraphobia to some degree."
Don White; Weatherwatch; Daily Telegraph (Sydney, Australia); Dec 11, 2001.

See more usage examples of astraphobia in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Any advertisement in public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. It belongs to you. It's yours to take, re-arrange, and re-use. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head. -Banksy, street artist (b. 1974)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise