frenzy
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English, from Old French frenesie, from Latin phrenesis, from Ancient Greek *φρένησις (*phrénēsis), a later equivalent of φρενῖτις (phrenîtis, “inflammation of the brain”): see frantic and frenetic.
Pronunciation
Noun
frenzy (countable and uncountable, plural frenzies)
- A state of wild activity or panic.
- She went into a cleaning frenzy to prepare for the unexpected guests.
- 1983, Richard Ellis, The Book of Sharks, Knopf, →ISBN, page 170:
- It is during these frenzies that sharks have been known to bite everything in sight, including other sharks engaged in the same activity.
- A violent agitation of the mind approaching madness; rage.
- (Can we date this quote by Addison and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- All else is towering frenzy and distraction.
- 1595-1596, William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 5, scene 1:
- The poet's eye in a fine frenzy rolling.
- (Can we date this quote by Addison and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
state of wild activity or panic
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Adjective
frenzy (comparative more frenzy, superlative most frenzy)
- (obsolete) Mad; frantic.
- 1678 John Bunyan The Pilgrim's Progress:
- They thought that some frenzy distemper had got into his head.
- 1678 John Bunyan The Pilgrim's Progress:
Verb
frenzy (third-person singular simple present frenzies, present participle frenzying, simple past and past participle frenzied)
- (uncommon) To render frantic.
- (rare) To exhibit a frenzy, such as a feeding frenzy.
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- The fresh smell of salt air, the sound of the crashing swell, the soothing immersion in the water, the sight of dolphins playing and fish frenzying beneath my board.
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Further reading
- “frenzy”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “frenzy”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “frenzy”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
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