apoplectic

English

WOTD – 12 June 2007

Etymology

From French apoplectique, from Late Latin apoplēcticus, from Ancient Greek ἀποπληκτικός (apoplēktikós), from ἀπόπληκτος (apóplēktos), from ἀποπλήσσω (apoplḗssō), from ἀπό (apó, “of, from”) + πλήσσω (plḗssō, “I strike”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌæpəˈplɛktɪk/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛktɪk

Adjective

apoplectic (comparative more apoplectic, superlative most apoplectic)

  1. (medicine) Of, or relating to apoplexy.
  2. Marked by extreme anger or fury.
    • 2011 March 13, Chris Bevan, “Stoke 2 - 1 West Ham”, in BBC‎:
      The decision left Potters boss Tony Pulis apoplectic on the touchline, a feeling his West Ham counterpart Avram Grant was to share immediately after the break.
  3. (archaic) Effused with blood.

Quotations

  • 1960 — Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, ch 11
    "Once she heard Jem refer to our father as 'Atticus' and her reaction was apoplectic."
  • 2005 — (author?), The New Yorker, (page?) (12 Dec)
    "Speak of the devil—he marches through the door, and becomes apoplectic when he learns of the upheaval."

Translations

Noun

apoplectic (plural apoplectics)

  1. A person suffering from apoplexy.
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.