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maniac

 - 6 dictionary results

ma⋅ni⋅ac

  [mey-nee-ak]
Use maniac in a Sentence
–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ma·ni·ac   (mā'nē-āk')   
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.]
ma·ni·a·cal   (mə-nī'ə-kəl)   
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ma·ni·ac
Pronunciation: 'mA-nE-"ak
Function: noun
: an individual affected with or exhibiting insanity
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

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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