insanity
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]A three-part word (root 'sane', prefix 'in-' meaning 'not', suffix '-ity', meaning 'the state of'). Derived from Latin precursory equivalents. Two possible candidates for construction order:
- insane + -ity: insānus (“unhealthy; insane”) + -itās
- in- + sanity: in- (“lacking; without”) + sanitās (“health; sanity”)
Pronunciation
[edit]Noun
[edit]insanity (countable and uncountable, plural insanities)
- The state of being insane; madness.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:insanity
- Antonyms: see Thesaurus:sanity
- Coordinate term: unsanity
- The defendant pleaded insanity in the hope of getting a reduced sentence.
- 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Chamber of Death”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 271:
- But the bed-side of Lady Marchmont had a darker lesson than the grave, the ravings of insanity revealed the fiery world of that beating and passionate heart. Ethel could only feel too fearful, too humbled, for judgment; but she wept, even while she prayed, beside her early friend.
Derived terms
[edit]Related terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]state of being insane
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Categories:
- English terms suffixed with -ity
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms prefixed with in-
- English 4-syllable words
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- en:Disability