INFLUENZA

noun Etymology: Italian, literally, influence, from Medieval Latin influentia; from the belief that epidemics were due to the influence of the stars Date: 1743 1. an acute highly contagious virus disease that is caused by any of three orthomyxoviruses ( Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus B, and Influenzavirus C ) and that is characterized by sudden onset, fever, prostration, severe aches and pains, and progressive inflammation of the respiratory mucous membrance, any of various human respiratory infections of undetermined cause, any of numerous febrile usually virus diseases of domestic animals marked by respiratory symptoms, inflammation of mucous membranes, and often systemic involvement, ~l adjective