dengue
UK[ˈdeŋɡi]US[ˈdeŋɡi]
n
A serious disease, common in hot countries, that is caused by a virus spread by mosquitoes and causes fever and severe pain in the joints.
Etymology
The word 'dengue' entered English in the early 19th century from the Spanish term 'dengue', itself likely borrowed from the Swahili phrase 'ka dinga pepo', meaning 'cramp-like seizure caused by an evil spirit'. This reflects the disease's sudden and painful onset. Spanish usage in the Caribbean may have been influenced by a West Indian Spanish adaptation 'dengue', meaning 'fastidiousness' or 'affectation', alluding to the stiff, careful gait of a sufferer due to severe joint and muscle pain. The term's journey from a descriptive phrase for a supernatural affliction to the specific name for a mosquito-borne viral fever illustrates the historical process of naming diseases based on their observed symptoms.
Analysis
This word is a loanword adopted as a single, unanalyzable unit in English. Its components do not correspond to productive English morphemes.
Examples
The outbreak of dengue fever has overwhelmed the local hospital.
Health officials are spraying to control mosquitoes that spread dengue.
Symptoms of dengue include high fever, severe headache, and muscle pain.