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