A disease or pathological condition formerly believed to be caused by exposure to wind or drafts of air.
From Greek anemos (wind) plus nosos (disease), literally 'wind disease.' This term reflects ancient and medieval medical theories about environmental disease causes.
People in the Middle Ages were genuinely terrified of 'bad air' and wind because they couldn't see viruses and bacteria—their fear wasn't totally irrational; they just couldn't explain that wind carries actual disease-causing particles!
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