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maniac
8 dictionary results for: maniac
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ma·ni·ac       [mey-nee-ak] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.a raving or violently insane person; lunatic.
2.any intemperate or overly zealous or enthusiastic person: a maniac when it comes to details.
–adjective
3.maniacal.
[Origin: 1595–1605; < ML maniacus of, pertaining to madness. See mania, -ac]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ma·ni·ac       (mā'nē-āk')  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. An insane person.
  2. A person who has an excessive enthusiasm or desire for something: a sports maniac.
  3. A person who acts in a wildly irresponsible way: maniacs on the highway.

adj.   Variant of maniacal.


[From Late Latin maniacus, maniacal, from Greek maniakos, from maniā, madness; see men-1 in Indo-European roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ma·ni·a·cal       (mə-nī'ə-kəl)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Suggestive of or afflicted with insanity: a maniacal frenzy.
  2. Characterized by excessive enthusiasm or excitement: a maniacal interest in gambling.

ma·ni'a·cal·ly adv.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
maniac  (adj.)
1604, from Fr. maniaque, from L.L. maniacus, from Gk. maniakos, from mania (see mania). The noun is attested from 1763, from the adj.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
maniac

adjective
1. wildly disordered; "a maniacal frenzy" [syn: maniacal] 

noun
1. an insane person [syn: lunatic] 
2. a person who has an obsession with or excessive enthusiasm for something 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

maniac ma·ni·ac (mā'nē-āk')
n.
An insane person.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Maniac

Ma"ni*ac\, a. [F. maniaque. See Mania.] Raving with madness; raging with disordered intellect; affected with mania; mad.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Maniac

Ma"ni*ac\, n. A raving lunatic; a madman.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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