lunatic
pronunciation
How to pronounce lunatic in British English:
UK [ˈluːnətɪk]
How to pronounce lunatic in American English:
US [ˈluːnətɪk]
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- Noun:
- an insane person
- a reckless impetuous irresponsible person
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- Adjective:
- insane and believed to be affected by the phases of the moon
Word Origin
- lunatic (adj.)
- late 13c., "affected with periodic insanity, dependent on the changes of the moon," from Old French lunatique, lunage "insane," or directly from Late Latin lunaticus "moon-struck," from Latin luna "moon" (see Luna). Compare Old English monseoc "lunatic," literally "moon-sick;" Middle High German lune "humor, temper, mood, whim, fancy" (German Laune), from Latin luna. Compare also New Testament Greek seleniazomai "be epileptic," from selene "moon." Lunatic fringe (1913) apparently was coined by U.S. politician Theodore Roosevelt. Then, among the wise and high-minded people who in self-respecting and genuine fashion strive earnestly for peace, there are foolish fanatics always to be found in such a movement and always discrediting it -- the men who form the lunatic fringe in all reform movements. [Theodore Roosevelt, autobiography, 1913]. Earlier it was a term for a type of hairstyle worn over the forehead (1877). Lunatic soup (1933) was Australian slang for "alcoholic drink."
- lunatic (n.)
- "lunatic person," late 14c., from lunatic (adj.).
Antonym
Example
- 1. One lunatic with a gun could have changed everything .
- 2. If the charges are true , this capable man is a lunatic .
- 3. How could she explain that the blocks weren 't hers without sounding like a lunatic ?
- 4. As for her personal safety , she said she isn 't overly worried but does think about what a stray lunatic could do .
- 5. Imagine the hr director sitting across from you is a lunatic in a bank vault with 10 hostages . Instead of demanding millions and a private jet , he 's guarding the spreadsheet containing the payroll budget .