Word Origin & History
rage (n.)
1297, from O.Fr. raige (11c.), from M.L. rabia, from L. rabies "madness, rage, fury," related to rabere "be mad, rave." Related to rabies, of which this is the original sense. Similarly, Welsh (cynddaredd) and Breton (kounnar) words for "rage, fury" originally meant "hydrophobia" and are compounds based on the word for "dog" (Welsh ci, plural cwn; Breton ki). The verb is c.1250, originally "to play, romp;" meaning "be furious" first recorded c.1300. The rage "fashion, vogue" dates from 1785.