phrenitis

English

Etymology

From Latin phrenītis, from Ancient Greek φρενῖτις (phrenîtis), from φρήν (phrḗn, “mind”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /fɹəˈnʌɪtɪs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /fɹəˈnaɪtəs/, [fɹəˈnaɪɾəs]

Noun

phrenitis (countable and uncountable, plural phrenitides)

1. (historical, medicine) Madness, especially as caused by inflammation of the brain; encephalitis, encephalomeningitis, or meningitis.

   Synonym: cephalitis

   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, page 140:

     Phrenitis, which the Greeks derive from the word φρήν, is a disease of the mind, with a continual madness or dotage […].

Anagrams

• Pinterish, inspireth, nephritis