Delirium
/dɪˈlɪ.ɹi.əm/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A temporary mental state with a sudden onset, usually reversible, including symptoms of confusion, inability to concentrate, disorientation, anxiety, and sometimes hallucinations. Causes can include dehydration, drug intoxication, and severe infection. countable, uncountable
"The popular delirium [of the French Revolution] at first caught his enthusiastic mind."
- 2 a usually brief state of excitement and mental confusion often accompanied by hallucinations wordnet
- 3 Wild, frenzied excitement or ecstasy. countable, uncountable
- 4 state of violent mental agitation wordnet
Example
More examples"Delirium of one person is called madness. Delirium of thousands of people is called religion."
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin dēlīrium (“derangement, madness”).