FANATIC

fanatic, fanatical, overzealous, rabid

(adjective) marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a cause or idea; “rabid isolationist”

fanatic, fiend

(noun) a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm (as for a cause); “A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject”--Winston Churchill

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

fanatic (comparative more fanatic, superlative most fanatic)

Fanatical.

• T. Moore

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

Noun

fanatic (plural fanatics)

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

Anagrams

• actifan

Source: Wiktionary


Fa*nat"ic, a. Etym: [L. fanaticus inspired by divinity, enthusiastic, frantic, fr. fanum fane: cf. F. fanatique. See Fane.]

Definition: Pertaining to, or indicating, fanaticism; extravagant in opinions; ultra; unreasonable; excessively enthusiastic, especially on religious subjects; as, fanatic zeal; fanatic notions. But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last. T. Moore.

Fa*nat"ic, n.

Definition: A person affected by excessive enthusiasm, particularly on religious subjects; one who indulges wild and extravagant notions of religion. There is a new word, coined within few months, called fanatics, which, by the close stickling thereof, seemeth well cut out and proportioned to signify what is meant thereby, even the sectaries of our age. Fuller (1660). Fanatics are governed rather by imagination than by judgment. Stowe.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

23 November 2024

THEORETICAL

(adjective) concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; “theoretical science”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.

coffee icon