frantic
pronunciation
How to pronounce frantic in British English:
UK [ˈfræntɪk]
How to pronounce frantic in American English:
US [ˈfræntɪk]
-
- Adjective:
- excessively agitated; transported with rage or other violent emotion
- marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion
Word Origin
- frantic
- frantic: [14] Frantic comes via Old French frenetique and Latin phreneticus from late Greek phrenētikús, a derivative of phrenítis ‘delirium’. This in turn was based on Greek phrén ‘mind’ (source also of English phrenology ‘study of cranial bumps to determine intelligence, character, etc’ [19]). The Old French form split into two virtually distinct words once English got hold of it: in one, the French three-syllable form was preserved, and even partially remodelled on its Latin ancestor, to give what has become modern English phrenetic, while in the other it was reduced to frentik which, for reasons that have never been satisfactorily explained, subsequently became frantic.The related noun frenzy [14] retains the original vowel.=> frenzy, phrenology
- frantic (adj.)
- mid-14c., "insane," unexplained variant of Middle English frentik (see frenetic). Compare franzy, dialectal form of frenzy. Transferred meaning "affected by wild excitement" is from late 15c. Of the adverbial forms, frantically (1749) is later than franticly (1540s).
Example
- 1. These frantic moves spooked already turbulent markets and led to financial panic .
- 2. We were frantic because we lost ben in the shop .
- 3. Norwegian television showed dramatic footage of youngsters swimming from the scene and interviewed parents who had received frantic phone calls from terrified youngsters .
- 4. Things are frantic in the office right now .
- 5. Cherian george , a political commentator , says the younger generation no longer supports the frantic dash for progress .