delirium

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A temporary mental state with a sudden onset, usually reversible, including symptoms of confusion, inability to concentrate, disorientation, anxiety, and sometimes hallucinations. Causes can include dehydration, drug intoxication, and severe infection.

   The popular delirium [of the French Revolution] at first caught his enthusiastic mind.

2. 2
   noun

   a usually brief state of excitement and mental confusion often accompanied by hallucinations

3. 3
   noun

   state of violent mental agitation

4. 4
   noun

   Wild, frenzied excitement or ecstasy.

Simplified etymology

Delirium was adopted into English in the mid-16th century from Latin. It is related to delirare ‘to deviate or be deranged’, literally ‘to go away from the furrow’, from de- ‘away’ and lira ‘ridge between furrows’.

Borrowed from Latin dēlīrium (“derangement, madness”).

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External links

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