different between frenzy vs frantic

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

English

Alternative forms

• frantick (obsolete)
• phrantic (chiefly obsolete)
• phrantick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English frantik, frentik, from Old French frenetique, from Late Latin phreneticus, alteration of phreniticus, from ?????????? (phrenitikós, “mad, suffering from inflammation of the brain”), from ???????? (phrenîtis, “inflammation of the brain”), from ???? (phr?n, “the brain”). Doublet of frenetic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?f?ænt?k/
• Rhymes: -ænt?k

Adjective

frantic (comparative more frantic, superlative most frantic)

1. (archaic) Insane, mentally unstable.
   • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Matthew XV:

     Master have mercy on my sonne, for he is franticke: and ys sore vexed.

   • c. 1599, William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act I, Scene 3,^[1]

     If with myself I hold intelligence,

     Or have acquaintance with mine own desires;

     If that I do not dream, or be not frantic—

     As I do trust I am not—then, dear uncle,

     Never so much as in a thought unborn

     Did I offend your Highness.

2. In a state of panic, worry, frenzy or rush.

3. Extremely energetic

Synonyms

• frenetic, frenzied

Related terms

• frenetic
• phrenitis
• frenzy

Translations

Noun

frantic (plural frantics)

1. (archaic) A person who is insane or mentally unstable, madman.
   • 1595, George Peele, The Old Wives’ Tale, The Malone Society Reprints, 1908, lines 3-5,^[3]

     How nowe fellowe Franticke, what all a mort? Doth this sadnes become thy madnes?

   • 1657, Aston Cockayne, The Obstinate Lady, London: Isaac Pridmore, Act V, Scene 3, p. 56,^[4]

     […] who but sensless Franticks would have thoughts so poor? My Reason forsakes the government of this weak Frame, and I am fall’n into disorder […]

   • 1721, Cotton Mather, diary entry for 16 July, 1721 in Diary of Cotton Mather, 1709-1724, Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, Seventh Series, Volume VIII, Boston: 1912, p. 632,^[5]

     The Destroyer, being enraged at the Proposal of any Thing, that may rescue the Lives of our poor People from him, has taken a strange Possession of the People on this Occasion. They rave, they rail, they blaspheme; they talk not only like Ideots but also like Franticks, […]

References

Further reading

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

Anagrams

• infarct, infract