Lunacy LU'NACY, n. [from L. luna, the moon.] 1. A species of
insanity of madness, supposed to be influenced by the moon, or periodical
in the month. 2. Madness in general.
lunacy
1541, "condition of being a lunatic," formed in Eng. from lunatic
(q.v.). Originally in ref. to intermittent periods of insanity, such as
were believed to be triggered by the moon's cycle.
lunacy noun (plural-cies)
Etymology:lunaticDate: 1541 1.a.insanityb. intermittent insanity once believed to
be related to phases of the moon
2. wild foolishness ; extravagant folly 3. a
foolish act
lunacy n. (pl. -ies) 1 insanity (orig. of the intermittent kind attributed to changes of the moon); the state of being a lunatic. 2 Law such mental unsoundness as interferes with civil
rights or transactions. 3 great folly or eccentricity; a foolish act.
lunacy
1. If you describe someone's behaviour as lunacy, you mean that it seems very strange
or foolish.
...the lunacy of the tax system...It remains lunacy to produce yet more coal to add to power stations' stockpiles.N-UNCOUNT [disapproval]
2. Lunacy is severe mental illness. (OLD-FASHIONED)
N-UNCOUNT
lunacy
ˈlu:nəsɪ n. (pl. -ies) 1 insanity (orig. of the intermittent kind
attributed to changes of the moon); the state of being a lunatic. 2 Law such
mental unsoundness as interferes with civil rights or transactions. 3 great
folly or eccentricity; a foolish act.
Lunacy \Lu"na*cy\, n.; pl. Lunacies. [See Lunatic.]
1. Insanity or madness; properly, the kind of insanity which
is broken by intervals of reason, -- formerly supposed to
be influenced by the changes of the moon; any form of
unsoundness of mind, except idiocy; mental derangement or
alienation. --Brande. --Burrill.
Your kindred shuns your house As beaten hence by
your strange lunacy. --Shak.
2. A morbid suspension of good sense or judgment, as through
fanaticism. --Dr. H. More.
Syn: Derangement; craziness; mania. See Insanity.
lunacy
ˈlu:nəsɪ n.
1 madness, insanity, dementia, craziness, derangement, psychosis, mania: Formerly,
it was believed that lunacy fluctuated in accordance with the phases of the moon.
2 folly, foolishness, bad or poor judgement, illogicality, illogic, senselessness,
ridiculousness, irrationality, foolhardiness, stupidity: It would be sheer lunacy to confess
to something you did not do.
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