frantic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Insane, mentally unstable.

   Master have mercy on my sonne, for he is franticke: and ys sore vexed.

2. 2
   adj

   In a state of panic, worry, frenzy, or rush.

   They returned the missing child to his frantic mother.

3. 3
   adj

   Extremely energetic.

   Frantic music.

4. 4
   noun

   A person who is insane or mentally unstable, madman.

   1595, George Peele, The Old Wives’ Tale, The Malone Society Reprints, 1908, lines 3-5, How nowe fellowe Franticke, what all a mort? Doth this sadnes become thy madnes?

From Middle English frantike, frentik, variant of frenetik, from Old French frenetique, from Late Latin phreneticus, alteration of phreniticus, from φρενιτικός (phrenitikós, “mad, suffering from inflammation of the brain”), from φρενῖτις (phrenîtis, “inflammation of the brain”), from φρήν (phrḗn, “the brain”). Doublet of frenetic and phrenitic.

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