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Webster 1913 Edition

Frantic

Fran′tic

,
Adj.
[OE.
frentik
,
frenetik
, F.
frentique
, L.
phreneticus
, from Gr. [GREEK]. See
Frenzy
, and cf.
Frenetic
,
Phrenetic
.]
Mad; raving; furious; violent; wild and disorderly; distracted.
Die,
frantic
wretch, for this accursed deed!
Shakespeare
–
Fran′tic-ness
,
Noun.
Johnson.

Webster 1828 Edition

Frantic

FRAN'TIC

,
Adj.
[L. phreneticus; Gr. from delirium or raving, from mind, the radical sense of which is to rush, to drive forward.]
1.
Mad; raving; furious; outrageous; wild and disorderly; distracted; as a frantic person; frantic with fear or grief.
2.
Characterized by violence, fury and disorder; noisy; mad; wild; irregular; as the frantic rites of Bacchus.

Definition 2024

frantic

frantic

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

frantic ‎(comparative more frantic, superlative most frantic)

  1. (now rare) Insane, mentally unstable.
    • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Matthew XV:
      Master have mercy on my sonne, for he is franticke: and ys sore vexed.
  2. In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush.
    They returned the missing child to his frantic mother.
  3. Extremely energetic
    frantic music
    • 2011 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Everton 0 - 2 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
      At the end of a frantic first 45 minutes, there was still time for Charlie Adam to strike the bar from 20 yards before referee Atkinson departed to a deafening chorus of jeering from Everton's fans.

Synonyms

Translations

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Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin freneticus, Latin phreneticus or phreniticus, from Ancient Greek *φρενητικός ‎(*phrenētikós), correctly φρενιτικός ‎(phrenitikós, “mad, suffering from inflammation of the brain”), from φρενῖτις ‎(phrenîtis, “inflammation of the brain”), from φρήν ‎(phrḗn, “the brain”).

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -æntɪk

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