Word Archaeology: ailurophobia

First used in 1905, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, ailurophobia refers to an irrational fear of cats. It’s derived from the Greek word “aielouros” for cat and “phobos” for fear. Someone afflicted by this fear is known as an ailurophobe. Some famous people who reportedly suffered from ailurophobia include Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare, Isadora Duncan, and Adolf Hitler.

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Wes Platt

Lead storyteller. Game designer and journalist. Recovering Floridian.

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