fanatic
- fanatic
-
/feuh nat"ik/, n.
1. a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal, as in religion or politics.
adj.
2. fanatical.
[
1515-25; < L fanaticus pertaining to a temple, inspired by orgiastic rites, frantic, equiv. to fan(um) temple + -aticus, equiv. to -at(us) -ATE1 + -icus -IC]
Syn. 1. enthusiast, zealot, bigot, hothead, militant. FANATIC, ZEALOT, MILITANT, DEVOTEE refer to persons showing more than ordinary support for, adherence to, or interest in a cause, point of view, or activity. FANATIC and ZEALOT both suggest excessive or overweening devotion to a cause or belief. FANATIC further implies unbalanced or obsessive behavior:
a wild-eyed fanatic. ZEALOT, only slightly less unfavorable in implication than FANATIC, implies single-minded partisanship:
a tireless zealot for tax reform.
MILITANT stresses vigorous, aggressive support for or opposition to a plan or ideal and suggests a combative stance. DEVOTEE is a milder term than any of the foregoing, suggesting enthusiasm but not to the exclusion of other interests or possible points of view: a jazz devotee.
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Universalium.
2010.
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Look at other dictionaries:
fanatic — FANÁTIC, Ă, fanatici, ce, adj., s.m. şi f. 1. adj., s.m. şi f. (Om) dominat de fanatism. 2. adj. (Despre manifestările oamenilor) Care exprimă, trădează fanatism. – Din fr. fanatique, lat. fanaticus … Dicționar Român
Fanatic — Fa*nat ic, a. [L. fanaticus inspired by divinity, enthusiastic, frantic, fr. fanum fane: cf. F. fanatique. See {Fane}.] Pertaining to, or indicating, fanaticism; extravagant in opinions; ultra; unreasonable; excessively enthusiastic, especially… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
fanatic — (n.) 1520s, insane person, from L. fanaticus mad, enthusiastic, inspired by a god, also furious, mad, originally, pertaining to a temple, from fanum temple, related to festus festive (see FEAST (Cf. feast)). Meaning zealous person is mid 17c. As… … Etymology dictionary
Fanatic — Fa*nat ic, n. A person affected by excessive enthusiasm, particularly on religious subjects; one who indulges wild and extravagant notions of religion. [1913 Webster] There is a new word, coined within few months, called fanatics, which, by the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
fanatic — index addict, addicted, bigot, demagogue, dictatorial, drastic, eager, fanatical, malcontent … Law dictionary
fanatic — n bigot, enthusiast, zealot … New Dictionary of Synonyms
fanatic — [n] person overenthusiastic about an interest activist, addict, bigot, bug*, crank*, crazy, demon, devotee, enthusiast, extremist, fiend*, fool, freak, maniac, militant, monomaniac, nut*, radical, ultraist, visionary, zealot; concepts 352,359,366 … New thesaurus
fanatic — ► NOUN 1) a person filled with excessive zeal, especially for an extreme political or religious cause. 2) informal a person with an obsessive enthusiasm for a pastime or hobby. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ filled with or expressing excessive zeal. DERIVATIVES… … English terms dictionary
fanatic — [fə nat′ik] adj. [< L fanaticus, of a temple, hence enthusiastic, inspired < fanum, a temple: see FANE] FANATICAL n. a person whose extreme zeal, piety, etc. goes beyond what is reasonable; zealot SYN. ZEALOT … English World dictionary
fanatic — n. 1) a religious fanatic 2) a fanatic to + inf. (he had to be a fanatic to do that) * * * [fə nætɪk] a religious fanatic a fanatic to + inf. (he had to be a fanatic to do that) … Combinatory dictionary
