Word of the Day Archive
Saturday July 2, 2011
bedlam \BED-luhm\
, noun:
1. A scene or state of wild uproar and confusion.
2. An archaic term for an insane asylum or madhouse.
Late at night, Jacob DeSerres has often put himself to sleep with thoughts of hoisting the Memorial Cup in the midst of bedlam and wild celebration.
-- Dan Ralph, "DeSerres close again to realizing dream of hoisting Memorial Cup trophy," The Canadian Press, May, 2011
There was bedlam -- noise, scurrying, shouting, screaming, and confusion.
-- James Khan, "System going flaming mad," The Daily Star, May 2011
Bedlam is an alteration of the name of a British insane asylum, the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem in London, in essence a folk shortening of Bethlehem.
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for bedlam