influenza Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease
    flu; grippe.

WordNet

In`flu*en"za noun
Etymology
It. influenza influence, an epidemic formerly attributed by astrologers to the influence of the heavenly bodies, influenza. See Influence.
Definitions
  1. (Med.) An epidemic affection characterized by acute nasal catarrh, or by inflammation of the throat or the bronchi, and usually accompanied by fever.

Webster 1913