different between fanatic vs monomaniac

English

Alternative forms

• fanatick (obsolete)

Etymology

First attested in 1525. From Latin f?n?ticus (“of a temple, divinely inspired, frenzied”), from f?num (“temple”). Influenced by French fanatique.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /f??næt.?k/
• Rhymes: -æt?k

Adjective

fanatic (comparative more fanatic, superlative most fanatic)

1. Fanatical.
   • T. Moore

     But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast / To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last.

2. (obsolete) Showing evidence of possession by a god or demon; frenzied, overzealous.

Translations

Noun

fanatic (plural fanatics)

1. A person who is zealously enthusiastic for some cause, especially in religion.

Translations

See also

• fan
• crank
• extremist

Quotations

• A zealot can't change his mind. A fanatic can't change his mind and won't change the subject. —Winston Churchill (attributed)
• A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim. —George Santayana

Anagrams

• actifan

Occitan

Etymology

From Latin f?n?ticus.

Pronunciation

Adjective

fanatic m (feminine singular fanatica, masculine plural fanatics, feminine plural fanaticas)

1. fanatical

Romanian

Etymology

From French fanatique, from Latin fanaticus.

Adjective

fanatic m or n (feminine singular fanatic?, masculine plural fanatici, feminine and neuter plural fanatice)

1. fanatic

Declension

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m?n???me?n?æk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?m?no??me?n?æk/
• Rhymes: -e?n?æk

Noun

monomaniac (plural monomaniacs)

1. A person who is obsessed with a single thing, to the exclusion of other concerns.
   • 1859, George Meredith, The Ordeal of Richard Feverel, Chapter 15:

     To talk nonsense, or poetry, or the dash between the two, in a tone of profound sincerity, and to enunciate solemn discordances with received opinion so seriously as to convey the impression of a spiritual insight, is the peculiar gift by which monomaniacs, having first persuaded themselves, contrive to influence their neighbours, and through them to make conquest of a good half of the world, for good or for ill.

   • 1873, Horatio Alger, Bound to Rise, Ch. X

     Harry knew now that the old man was crazy, or at least a monomaniac, and, though he seemed harmless enough, it was of course possible that he might be dangerous.

   • 1890, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Firm of Girdlestone, Ch. 44

     He had never yet been able to determine whether the old man was a consummate hypocrite or a religious monomaniac.

Synonyms

• (person obsessed): fanatic

Translations

Adjective

monomaniac

1. Focused on one thing above all others.
   • 1851 — Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Ch. 133

     ...then it was that monomaniac Ahab, furious with this tantalizing vicinity of his foe, which placed him all alive and helpless in the very jaws he hated; frenzied with all this, he seized the long bone with his naked hands, and wildly strove to wrench it from its gripe.

Translations

Related terms

• monomania
• monomaniacal
• monomaniacally

Romanian

Etymology

From French monomaniaque

Adjective

monomaniac m or n (feminine singular monomaniac?, masculine plural monomaniaci, feminine and neuter plural monomaniace)

1. monomaniac

Declension