— rabic /rab"ik, ray"bik/ , adj.
/ray"beez/ , n. Pathol.
an infectious disease of dogs, cats, and other animals, transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected animal and usually fatal if prophylactic treatment is not administered: caused by an RNA virus of the rhabdovirus group; hydrophobia.
[ 1655-65; rabies rage, madness, deriv. of rabere to be mad, rave ]