Dictionary

frantic en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈfɹæn.tɪk/
• (US) audio

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.

Meanings

1. (archaic) Insane, mentally unstable.
   • If with myself I hold intelligence, Or have acquaintance with mine own desires; If that I do not dream, or be not frantic— As I do trust I am not—then, dear uncle, Never so much as in a thought unborn Did I offend your Highness. c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
   • Master have mercy on my sonne, for he is franticke: and ys sore vexed. 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew:
2. In a state of panic, worry, frenzy, or rush.
   • Sir George bore the annoyances of the night as a very vain man does totally unaccustomed to mortification. He was frantic with passion; he longed to kill somebody, but he did not know who. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Assignation”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 247:
   • They returned the missing child to his frantic mother.
3. Extremely energetic.
   • 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. 2011 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Everton 0 - 2 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
   • frantic music

Forms

Deriveds

franticness · franticity · franticly · frantically · semifrantic

Relateds

frenetic · frenzy · phrenitis · schizophrenia · phrenology

Synonyms

frenetic · tearing · frenzied · mad

Translations (52)

ja 気違いじみた (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · fi epätoivoinen (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · da febrilsk (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · fr éperdu (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · cmn 瘋狂 /疯狂 (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · cs horečný (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · cs šílený (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · nrf êpèrdu (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · cmn 狂暴 (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · cs zběsilý (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · mi tūmekemeke (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · uk несамовитий (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · tr çılgına dönmüş (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · uk шалений (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · eo freneza (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · cs bez sebe (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · mi maurirere (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · ru бе́шеный (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · sv hektisk (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · cs frenetický (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · fi hurja (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · fi riehakas (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · cmn 慌亂不安的 /慌乱不安的 (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · da hektisk (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · tr hummalı (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · fr paniqué (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · fi vimmattu (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · cs překotný (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · it esagitato (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · cmn 喪心病狂的 /丧心病狂的 (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · fi raivoisa (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · it frenetico (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · de rasend (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · mi hopī (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · fi vauhko (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · de außer sich (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · sv frenetisk (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · nl panisch (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · es desesperado (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · nb febrilsk (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · es frenético (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · pt frenético (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · nn febrilsk (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · ru вне себя́ (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · la furiālis (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · bg неистов (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · fr frénétique (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · bg обезумял (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · da ude af sig selv (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · cs horečnatý (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · ru неи́стовый (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush) · da rasende (In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush)

frantic en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈfɹæn.tɪk/
• (US) audio

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.

Meanings

1. (archaic) A person who is insane or mentally unstable, madman.
   • […] who but senseless Franticks would have thoughts so poor? My Reason forsakes the government of this weak Frame, and I am fall’n into disorder […] 1657, Aston Cockayne, The Obstinate Lady, London: Isaac Pridmore, act V, scene 3, page 56:
   • 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?
   • 1721, Cotton Mather, diary entry for 16 July, 1721 in Diary of Cotton Mather, 1709-1724, Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, Seventh Series, Volume VIII, Boston: 1912, p. 632, The Destroyer, being enraged at the Proposal of any Thing, that may rescue the Lives of our poor People from him, has taken a strange Possession of the People on this Occasion. They rave, they rail, they blaspheme; they talk not only like Ideots but also like Franticks, […]

Forms