madness
nounUK /ˈmad.nəs/ · US /ˈmæd.nəs/
Etymology From Middle English madnes, madnesse; equivalent to mad + -ness.
1
Usually The state of being mad; insanity; mental disease.
- Though this be madneſſe, / Yet there is Method in 't: […]c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 261, column 2:
- You were lonely for a man I said, "Take me as I am" 'Cause you might enjoy some madness for a while1980 March 7, Billy Joel, “You May Be Right”, in Glass Houses:
1 more example
- Shepard: What's wrong with your assistant? Dr. Warren: Manuel has a brilliant mind, but he's always been a bit... unstable. Genius and madness are two sides of the same coin. Dr. Manuel: Is it madness to see the future? To see the destruction rushing towards us? To understand there is no escape? No hope? No, I am not mad. I'm the only sane one left! Dr. Warren: I gave him an extra dose of his meds after the attack.2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Eden Prime:
2
Usually The state of being angry.
3
Usually Rash folly.
- Antonyms
- sanity
- Derived terms
- canine madness, gluten-free madness, March Madness, method in the madness, method to one's madness, midsummer madness, moon madness, mulga madness, premadness, running madness, semimadness, that way madness lies