craze meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

craze

noun

/kɹeɪz/

Etymology From Middle English crasen (“to crush, break, break to pieces, shatter, craze”), from Old Norse *krasa (“to shatter”), ultimately imitative. Cognate with Scots krass (“to crush, squeeze, wrinkle”), Icelandic krasa (“to crackle”), Norwegian krasa (“to shatter, crush”), Swedish krasa (“to crack, crackle”), Danish krase (“to crack, crackle”), Faroese kras (“small pieces”).

A strong habitual desire or fancy.

A temporary passion or infatuation, as for some new amusement, pursuit, or fashion; a fad.

Have you heard about the new dance craze? / Listen to us, I'm sure you'll be amazed / Big fun to be had by everyone / It's up to you, it surely can be done1978 September 21, Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers, “Le Freak”, in C'est Chic, performed by Chic, track 2:
Winemaking was a huge craze in the 1970s, when affordable package holidays to the continent gave people a taste for winedrinking, but the recession made it hard to afford off-license prices back home.2012, Alan Titchmarsh, The Complete Countryman: A User's Guide to Traditional Skills and Lost Crafts:

Ceramics, Chemistry, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A crack in the glaze or enamel caused by exposure of the pottery to great or irregular heat.

Archaic Craziness; insanity.

‘A poor fellow with a craze, sir,’ said Mr. Dick, ‘a simpleton, a weak-minded person […] may do what wonderful people may not do. […]’1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC:

Derived terms: becraze, crazeless, craze line, crazen, crazy, witch craze
Related terms: fad, trend

craze

verb

Archaic To weaken; to impair; to render decrepit.

till length of years / And ſedentary numneſs craze my limbs1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 39, lines 571–572:

To derange the intellect of; to render insane.

any man […] that is crazed and out of his wits1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC:
Grief hath crazed my wits.c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:

To be crazed, or to act or appear as one that is crazed; to rave; to become insane.

And if Robin should be cast / Sudden from his turfed grave, / And if Marian should have / Once again her forest days, / She would weep and he would craze: [...]1820, John Keats, “Robin Hood”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, page 135:

Archaic To break into pieces; to crush; to grind to powder. See crase.

God looking forth will trouble all his Hoſt / And craze thir Chariot wheels:1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 1100–1101:

To crack, as the glazing of porcelain or pottery.

craze

craze

craze

Learn more