Webster's English Dictionary

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influenza

in.flu.en.za \.in-(.)flu:-'en-z*\ n [It, lit., influence, fr. ML 
   influentia; fr. the belief that epidemics we]re due to the influence of the 
   stars 1: an acute highly contagious virus disease characterized by sudden 
   onset,  fever, prostration, severe aches and pains, and progressive 
   inflammation of the respiratory mucous membrane; broadly : a human 
   respiratory infection of undetermined cause 2: any of numerous febrile usu. 
   virus diseases of domestic animals marked b y respiratory symptoms, 
   inflammation of mucous membranes, and often systemic involvement