rampage English · revision 1647

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹæmpeɪd͡ʒ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is originally Scottish,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) probably from [[ramp]] in the sense “to rage, rush wildly about”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) with the suffix [[-age]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) Barnhart compares Middle English ''ramagen'' “to be furious”.^(Barnhart 1995) It is related to [[rampant]].^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To behave violently or furiously; to storm or rage (1715, Scottish).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By 1808 the verb meant to rush about wildly or violently.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) The noun, a state of violent excitement or reckless behaviour, especially in the phrase ''on the rampage'', followed in 1861.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1715 – verb, to rage (Scottish).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1808 – verb, to rush about wildly.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1861 – noun.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A course of violent, wild or reckless behavior, as in ''go on the rampage''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A state of violent anger or agitation.^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To rush about wildly or violently.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[rampager]]

+ * [[rampageous]]

+ * [[rampageously]]

+ * [[rampageousness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ramp]]

+ * [[rampant]]

+ * [[rage]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''storm'', ''rage'' and ''tear'' as synonyms of the verb.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}