frenesie

See also: frénésie

Italian

Noun

frenesie f

1. plural of frenesia

Middle English

Alternative forms

• ffransy, ffrenesye, franesie, fransey, fransie, fransye, frenesy, frenesye, frensy, frensye

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French frenesie, from Medieval Latin phrenesia, modification of Latin phrenēsis. Compare frenetik.

For pronunciations of this word with /a/, compare Old French franaisie, variant of frenesie; the MED's belief that such pronunciations are influenced by fantasie is unnecessary.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /frɛn(ɛ)ˈziː(ə)/, /fran(ɛ)ˈziː(ə)/, /ˈfrɛn(ɛ)ziː(ə)/, /ˈfran(ɛ)ziː(ə)/

Noun

frenesie (chiefly Late Middle English)

1. Irrationality, insanity; the condition of lacking a sound mind.
2. (rare) A deranged or irrational person.

Descendants

• English: frenzy
• Scots: franazy (obsolete)

References

• “frenesīe, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Old French

Alternative forms

• fernoisie, franaisie, frenisie, furnexie

Etymology

Semi-learned borrowing from Medieval Latin phrenesia (possibly replacing inherited *fernise), modification of Latin phrenēsis. Compare frenetique.

Noun

frenesie oblique singular, f (oblique plural frenesies, nominative singular frenesie, nominative plural frenesies)

1. frenzy (violent agitation of the mind approaching madness; rage)

Descendants

• Middle French: frenesie, frenaisie, frénésie
  • French: frénésie
  • → Middle English: frenesie, ffransy, ffrenesye, franesie, fransey, fransie, fransye, frenesy, frenesye, frensy, frensye
    • English: frenzy
    • Scots: franazy (obsolete)