Definition

Noun: 1. A psychological condition historically characterized by an uncontrollable urge to dance: Tarantism refers to a disorder, believed in the Middle Ages through the 17th century, where individuals felt compelled to engage in frenzied, prolonged dancing. It was popularly thought to be caused by the bite of a tarantula spider.

Usage

• Tarantism is primarily used in historical, medical, and cultural contexts to describe a phenomenon from past centuries.
• It is an uncountable noun (e.g., ).

Examples

• Historical records from Southern Italy describe epidemics of tarantism.
• The study of tarantism provides insight into medieval beliefs about illness and music.
• She wrote her thesis on the cultural history of tarantism in the Mediterranean region.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often discussed in relation to the "tarantella", a fast-paced folk dance. The dance was historically performed as a supposed cure for tarantism, with the belief that the sweat from dancing would expel the spider's venom.

Variants and Related Words

• Tarantella (noun): A rapid, whirling folk dance from Southern Italy, historically associated with the ritual cure for tarantism.

Synonyms

• Dancing mania (This is a broader historical term that encompasses tarantism and similar phenomena like St. Vitus's Dance).
• Choreomania (A medical term for dancing mania).

Notes on Different Meanings

• Tarantism has only one specific historical meaning. It should not be confused with a modern allergic reaction or medical condition caused by a spider bite. It refers to a culturally-defined syndrome.

Noun

1. a nervous disorder characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to dance; popularly attributed to bite of the southern European tarantula or wolf spider