frenzy English · revision 2203

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfɹɛnzi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|frenesie]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[bor|fro|frenesie|t=madness]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|la-med|phrenēsia]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from Latin ''phrenēsis'', a back-formation from ''phrenēticus'' “delirious”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) ultimately from Greek ''phrenîtis'' “inflammation of the brain”.^(RHWU) It is related to ''frenetic'' and ''frantic''.^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Mental derangement; delirium or temporary insanity (c1340).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Barnhart dates the contracted form ''frensye'' to before 1396, and ''frenesye'' to about 1378.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense was extended about 1400 to any agitated state of mind likened to madness: wild rage, enthusiasm or excitement.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) By 1632 it could mean a crazy notion or a craze for something,^(OED 1989)^(AHD) and today it often describes intense, disorderly activity, as in a ''shopping frenzy'' or ''feeding frenzy''.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary) The verb, “to drive into a frenzy”, dates from the 1790s.^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c1340 – delirium, temporary insanity.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * c1386 – figurative, a state of wild agitation.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1577 – adjective, mad (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1632 – a crazy notion; a craze.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1791 – verb, to affect with frenzy.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1796 – ''frenzied''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A state of violent mental agitation or wild excitement.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Temporary madness or delirium.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # Intense, wild and often disorderly activity.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A mania or craze.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To drive into a frenzy; to make frantic.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[frenzily]]

+ * [[feeding frenzy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[frantic]]

+ * [[frenetic]]

+ * [[frenzied]]

+ * [[schizophrenia]]

+ * [[phrenology]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}