frantic

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈfɹæn.tɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #14954

Meanings

1

adj
Insane, mentally unstable.

Master have mercy on my sonne, for he is franticke: and ys sore vexed.
2

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

They returned the missing child to his frantic mother.
3

adj
Extremely energetic.

Frantic music.
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?

Thesaurus

Synonyms

frenetic frenzied

Word family

Derived forms franticallyfranticityfranticlyfranticnesssemifrantic

Related forms frenetic frenzyphrenitisphrenologyschizophrenia

Simplified etymology

Frantic entered English in late Middle English as an alternative form of frenetic and initially meant “insane.” It ultimately traces through French and Latin to Greek phrenitikos, from phrenitis, “delirium.”

Etymology

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.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# frantic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈfɹæn.tɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 14954

## Meanings
1. Insane, mentally unstable.
2. In a state of panic, worry, frenzy, or rush.
3. Extremely energetic.
4. A person who is insane or mentally unstable, madman.

## Examples
- Master have mercy on my sonne, for he is franticke: and ys sore vexed.
- They returned the missing child to his frantic mother.
- Frantic music.
- 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?

## Synonyms
- frenetic
- frenzied

## Derived Forms
- frantically
- franticity
- franticly
- franticness
- semifrantic

## Related Forms
- frenetic
- frenzy
- phrenitis
- phrenology
- schizophrenia

## Etymology
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.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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