different between aberration vs frenzy

English

Etymology

A learned borrowing from Latin aberr?ti? (“relief, diversion”), first attested in 1594 , from aberr? (“wander away, go astray”), from ab (“away”) + err? (“wander”). Compare French aberration. Equivalent to aberrate +? -ion.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?æb.???e?.?n?/

Noun

aberration (countable and uncountable, plural aberrations)

1. The act of wandering; deviation from truth, moral rectitude; abnormal; divergence from the straight, correct, proper, normal, or from the natural state. [Late 16^th century.]
2. (optics) The convergence to different foci, by a lens or mirror, of rays of light emanating from one and the same point, or the deviation of such rays from a single focus; a defect in a focusing mechanism that prevents the intended focal point. [Mid 18^th century.]
3. (astronomy) A small periodical change of position in the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer. [Mid 18^th century.]
   1. (astronomy, by extension) The tendency of light rays to preferentially strike the leading face of a moving object (the effect underlying the above phenomenon).
4. A partial alienation of reason. [Early 19^th century.]
5. A mental disorder, especially one of a minor or temporary character. [Early 19^th century.]
6. (zoology, botany) Atypical development or structure; deviation from the normal type; an aberrant organ. [Mid 19^th century.]
7. (medicine) A deviation of a tissue, organ or mental functions from what is considered to be within the normal range.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

References

French

Etymology

From Latin aberrationem, aberratio.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.b?.?a.sj??/

Noun

aberration f (plural aberrations)

1. aberration
2. the state of being aberrant
3. (astronomy) aberration
4. (optics) aberration
5. (physiology) aberration or mutation

Related terms

• aberrer

Further reading

• “aberration” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• abornerait, arboraient

English

Alternative forms

• phrenzy, phrensy (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English frensy, frenesie, from Old French frenesie, from Latin phrenesis, from Ancient Greek *???????? (*phrén?sis), a later equivalent of ???????? (phrenîtis, “inflammation of the brain”): see frantic and frenetic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?f??nzi/

Noun

frenzy (countable and uncountable, plural frenzies)

1. A state of wild activity or panic.

   She went into a cleaning frenzy to prepare for the unexpected guests.
2. A violent agitation of the mind approaching madness; rage.

   • All else is towering frenzy and distraction.

   • 1595-1596, William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 5, scene 1:

     The poet's eye in a fine frenzy rolling.

Derived terms

• feeding frenzy

Related terms

• frantic
• frenetic
• frenzied

Translations

Adjective

frenzy (comparative more frenzy, superlative most frenzy)

1. (obsolete) Mad; frantic.
   • 1678 John Bunyan The Pilgrim's Progress:

     They thought that some frenzy distemper had got into his head.

Verb

frenzy (third-person singular simple present frenzies, present participle frenzying, simple past and past participle frenzied)

1. (uncommon) To render frantic.

   • Both goaded on to strife by frenzying hate.

   • Then there is the absorbing, not to say frenzying, interest, which attends our important elections.

2. (rare) To exhibit a frenzy, such as a feeding frenzy.

   • The fresh smell of salt air, the sound of the crashing swell, the soothing immersion in the water, the sight of dolphins playing and fish frenzying beneath my board.

Further reading

• frenzy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• frenzy in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• frenzy at OneLook Dictionary Search