different between frenzy vs monomania

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

Etymology

Either:

• Formed in English as mono- +? mania;
• From the French monomanie; or,
• From the Modern Latin monomania.

Pronunciation

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

Noun

monomania (plural monomanias or monomaniæ)

1. Excessive interest or concentration on a singular object or subject.

   It was apparent to all but himself that what was once idle curiosity had become a monomania.

2. A pathological obsession with one person, thing or idea.

Quotations

• 1905 — Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Six Napoleons

  "There are no limits to the possibilities of monomania," I answered. "There is the condition which the modern French psychologists have called the 'idee fixe,' which may be trifling in character, and accompanied by complete sanity in every other way. A man who had read deeply about Napoleon, or who had possibly received some hereditary family injury through the great war, might conceivably form such an 'idee fixe' and under its influence be capable of any fantastic outrage."

Related terms

• monomaniac

Translations

See also

• idee fixe
• obsession

Finnish

Etymology

mono- +? -mania

Noun

monomania

1. monomania

Declension

Anagrams

• monomaani

Italian

Etymology

From mono- +? -mania.

Noun

monomania f (plural monomanie)

1. monomania

Related terms

• monomane

Anagrams

• annoiammo