Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Giddy
Gid′dy
,Adj.
[
Com
par.
Giddier
; sup
erl.
Giddiest
.] [OE.
gidi
mad, silly, AS. gidig
, of unknown origin, cf. Norw. gidda
to shake, tremble.] 1.
Having in the head a sensation of whirling or reeling about; having lost the power of preserving the balance of the body, and therefore wavering and inclined to fall; lightheaded; dizzy.
By
giddy
head and staggering legs betrayed. Tate.
2.
Promoting or inducing giddiness;
as, a
giddy
height; a giddy
precipice. Prior.
Upon the
giddy
footing of the hatches. Shakespeare
3.
Bewildering on account of rapid turning; running round with celerity; gyratory; whirling.
The
giddy
motion of the whirling mill. Pope.
4.
Characterized by inconstancy; unstable; changeable; fickle; wild; thoughtless; heedless.
“Giddy, foolish hours.” Rowe.
“Giddy chance.” Dryden.
Young heads are
giddy
and young hearts are warm. Cowper.
Gid′dy
,Verb.
I.
To reel; to whirl.
Chapman.
Gid′dy
,Verb.
T.
To make dizzy or unsteady.
[Obs.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Giddy
GID'DY
,Adj.
1.
That renders giddy; that induces giddiness; as a giddy highth; a giddy precipice.2.
Rotary; whirling; running round with celerity. The giddy motion of the whirling mill.
3.
Inconstant; unstable; changeable. You are as giddy and volatile as ever.
4.
Heedless; thoughtless; wild; roving.5.
Tottering; unfixed. As we have paced along
Upon the giddy footing of the hatches.
6.
Intoxicated; elated to thoughtlessness; rendered wild by excitement or joy. Art thou not giddy with the fashion too?
GID'DY
,Verb.
I.
GID'DY
,Verb.
T.
Definition 2024
giddy
giddy
English
Adjective
giddy (comparative giddier, superlative giddiest)
- Dizzy, feeling dizzy or unsteady and as if about to fall down.
- The man became giddy upon standing up so fast.
- Causing dizziness: causing dizziness or a feeling of unsteadiness.
- They climbed to a giddy height.
- Lightheartedly silly, or joyfully elated.
- 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 2, in The Affair at the Novelty Theatre:
- Miss Phyllis Morgan, as the hapless heroine dressed in the shabbiest of clothes, appears in the midst of a gay and giddy throng; she apostrophises all and sundry there, including the villain, and has a magnificent scene which always brings down the house, and nightly adds to her histrionic laurels.
- The boy was giddy when he opened his birthday presents.
-
- (archaic) Frivolous, impulsive, inconsistent, changeable.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 5 Scene 4
- In brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will think nothing to any purpose that the world can say against it; and therefore never flout at me for what I have said against it, for man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion.
- 1784, William Cowper, Tirocinium; or, A Review of Schools
- Young heads are giddy and young hearts are warm,
- And make mistakes for manhood to reform.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 5 Scene 4
Translations
dizzy
|
causing dizziness
|
|
lightheartedly silly or joyfully elated
|
|
frivolous, impulsive, inconsistent, changeable
|
Synonyms
Derived terms
See also
Verb
giddy (third-person singular simple present giddies, present participle giddying, simple past and past participle giddied)