Any violent agitation of the mind approaching to distraction; violent and temporary derangement of the mental faculties; madness; rage. "All else is towering frenzy and distraction." (Addison) "The poet's eye in a fine frenzy rolling." (Shak)

Synonyms: Insanity, lunacy, madness, derangment, alienation, aberration, delirium. See Insanity.

Origin: OE. Frenesie, fransey, F. Frenesie, L. Phrenesis, fr. Gr. For disease of the mind, phrenitis, fr. Mind. Cf. Frantic, Phrenitis.

(07 Apr 1998)