lunatic Hear it!

lunatic Definition

lu·na·tic (lo̵̅o̅′nə tik)

adjective

  1. suffering from lunacy; insane
  2. of or characterized by lunacy
  3. of or for insane persons
  4. utterly foolish

Etymology: ME lunatik < OFr lunatique < LL lunaticus, moon-struck, crazy < L luna, the moon: see light

noun

an insane person

lunatic Synonyms

lunatic

modif.

  1. Insane

    demented, deranged, psychotic; see insane 1.

  2. Foolish

    irrational, idiotic, daft; see stupid 1.

lunatic Synonyms

lunatic

n.

maniac, demoniac, insane person; see madman, neurotic.

lunatic Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • escape: There they meet an escaped lunatic with a script in one hand and a gun in the other.
  • have: But do we really need to have so many lunatics all in one place?
  • stop: The one where he flies a helicopter over Mount Everest and single-handedly stops a raving lunatic taking over the world!
  • consider: But I am growing increasingly tired of seeing the majority not getting my message and even being considered a lunatic.

Converse of subject

  • run: The second problem about buying in the States is that the Federal Reserve Bank is run by a lunatic.

Adjective modifier

  • raving: Or worse still, could they be a complete raving lunatic!
  • harmless: Many of his peers considered him a harmless lunatic.
  • dangerous: Is there any dangerous lunatic or idiot in the Workhouse?
  • criminal: A Select Committee of the House of Commons had recommended the erection of a national asylum for criminal lunatics in 1807.
  • religious: The threat we face today is that of religious fundamentalist lunatics who want to either control the whole world or destroy it.
  • complete: Or worse still, could they be a complete raving lunatic!

Modifies a noun

  • asylum: She is sent to a lunatic asylum, to be detained " at her majesty's pleasure " .
  • ward: There is no bath except in the lunatic wards.
  • speed: Think of racing all those fast cars round that track at lunatic speeds!
  • driver: Had a slightly freaky journey involving a lot of completely lunatic drivers putting us and several other people at considerable risk.
  • idea: I would very much like to know if any other council has imposed this lunatic idea on other disused railroad lines Sustrans have bought.

Noun used with modifier

  • pauper: The House of Industry was extended in 1819 by the addition of a block for pauper lunatics on the west side of the building.
  • county: In the years before Hampshire's county lunatic asylum existed, the Winchester workhouse provided care for " lunatic and mentally handicapped paupers " .

Preposition: in

  • asylum: They also contribute £ 10 Sterling yearly toward the payment of the board of a pauper lunatic in the asylum at Dundee.
lunatic Quotes

The men who really believe in themselves are all in lunatic asylums.

—Chesterton, G(ilbert) K(eith)

It seems as though I were in a lunatic asylum, but I am never sure who is the attendant and who the inmate.

—Conant,James Bryant

My Minister's room is like a padded cell, and in certain ways I am like a person who is suddenly certified a lunatic and put safely into this great, vast room, cut off from real life.Of course they don't behave quite like nurses, because the Civil Service is profoundly deferentialö'Yes, Minister! No, Minister! If you wish it, Minister!'

—Crossman, Richard Howard Stafford

   There is always something engagingly lunatic about Ralph, a Quixotic quality, although his windmills are ditches and his faithful nag a powerful motor-cycle.

—Ustinov, Sir PeterAlexander