frenzy

• phrenzy, phrensy (obsolete)

From Middle English frensy, frenesie, from Old French frenesie, from Latin phrenesis, from Ancient Greek *φρένησις (*phrénēsis), a later equivalent of φρενῖτις (phrenîtis, “inflammation of the brain”): see frantic and frenetic. Doublet of phrenesis.

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɹɛnzi/

• Audio (US):

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frenzy (countable and uncountable, plural frenzies)

1. A state of wild activity or panic.

   She went into a cleaning frenzy to prepare for the unexpected guests.

   • 1983, Richard Ellis, The Book of Sharks, Knopf, →ISBN, page 170:

     It is during these frenzies that sharks have been known to bite everything in sight, including other sharks engaged in the same activity.

   • 1999, Linda Flavell, Roger Flavell, “1066[:] The Normans Begin to Erect Castles”, in dictionary of english down through the ages[:] words & phrases born out of historical events great & small, 2005 edition, London: Kyle Cathie Limited, →ISBN, page 17:

     The early years of Norman occupation saw a frenzy of castle building.

2. A violent agitation of the mind approaching madness; rage.
   • 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 1:

     All else is towering frenzy and distraction.

   • c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:

     The poet's eye in a fine frenzy rolling.

• frantic
• frenetic
• frenzied
• schizophrenia

frenzy (comparative more frenzy, superlative most frenzy)

1. (obsolete) Mad; frantic.
   • 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress:

     They thought that some frenzy distemper had got into his head.

frenzy (third-person singular simple present frenzies, present participle frenzying, simple past and past participle frenzied)

1. (uncommon) To render frantic.
   • 1833, James Anthony Froude, Fraser's Magazine - Volume 7‎^[1], page 456:

     Both goaded on to strife by frenzying hate.

   • 1865, Gerrit Smith, Speeches and Letters of Gerrit Smith‎^[2], page 14:

     Then there is the absorbing, not to say frenzying, interest, which attends our important elections.

2. (rare) To exhibit a frenzy, such as a feeding frenzy.
   • 2009, Louise Southerden, Surf's Up: The Girl's Guide to Surfing‎^[3], →ISBN:

     The fresh smell of salt air, the sound of the crashing swell, the soothing immersion in the water, the sight of dolphins playing and fish frenzying beneath my board.

• “frenzy”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “frenzy”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
• “frenzy”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.