frenetic

Alternative forms

• phrenetic (dated)
• phrenetick (obsolete)
• phrentic, phrentick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old French frenetike, from Latin phreneticus, from Ancient Greek φρενητικός (phrenētikós, “delirious”), from φρενῖτις (phrenîtis, “delirium”), from φρήν (phrḗn, “mind”). Compare frantic.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /fɹəˈnɛt.ɪk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛtɪk

Adjective

frenetic (comparative more frenetic, superlative most frenetic)

1. Fast, harried; having extreme enthusiasm or energy.

   After a week of working at a frenetic pace, she was ready for Saturday.

2. (obsolete) Mentally deranged, insane.
3. (obsolete, medicine) Characterised by manifestations of delirium or madness.

Noun

frenetic (plural frenetics)

1. One who is frenetic.

Further reading

• frenetic in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• frenetic at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• infecter, reinfect