Definition

Proper noun * Saint Vitus: A Christian martyr and saint, traditionally venerated as the patron saint of those who suffer from epilepsy, Sydenham's chorea, and other nervous disorders. He is believed to have died around 300 AD.

Usage

• The term "St. Vitus" is used primarily in historical, religious, and medical contexts to refer to the saint himself or to conditions historically associated with his patronage.
• It is often found in the names of churches, religious orders, and in historical descriptions of diseases.

Examples

• Historical/Religious Context:
  • The chapel is dedicated to St. Vitus.
  • Many medieval sufferers prayed to St. Vitus for relief from their ailments.
• Medical/Historical Context:
  • "St. Vitus's dance" was an archaic term for Sydenham's chorea.

Advanced Usage

• "St. Vitus's dance": An archaic term for Sydenham's chorea, a neurological disorder characterized by rapid, uncoordinated jerking movements.
  • Historical accounts describe patients afflicted with St. Vitus's dance.

Variants and Related Words

• Vitus: The name of the saint without the honorific "Saint."
• Veit: The German variant of the name.
• Guy: The French variant (as in Saint-Guy).
• Sydenham's chorea: The modern medical term for the condition historically called "St. Vitus's dance."

Synonyms

• (For the saint) Saint Vitus of Lucania
• (For the condition) Sydenham's chorea (specifically for "St. Vitus's dance")

Related Phrases

• Patron saint of dancers and entertainers: In some traditions, St. Vitus is also considered a patron of dancers, likely due to the association with the involuntary movements of "his" dance.
  • Some performers consider St. Vitus their patron.

Noun

1. Christian martyr and patron of those who suffer from epilepsy and Sydenham's chorea (died around 300)