frantic

What it means

1. archaicInsane, mentally unstable.

   Master have mercy on my sonne, for he is franticke: and ys sore vexed.

   1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew

   1 more example

   If with myself I hold intelligence, Or have acquaintance with mine own desires; If that I do not dream, or be not frantic— As I do trust I am not—then, dear uncle, Never so much as in a thought unborn Did I offend your Highness.

   c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]

2. In a state of panic, worry, frenzy, or rush.

   They returned the missing child to his frantic mother.

   1 more example

   Sir George bore the annoyances of the night as a very vain man does totally unaccustomed to mortification. He was frantic with passion; he longed to kill somebody, but he did not know who.

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Assignation”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 247

   Synonyms: tearing, mad

3. Extremely energetic.

   frantic music

   1 more example

   At the end of a frantic first 45 minutes, there was still time for Charlie Adam to strike the bar from 20 yards before referee Atkinson departed to a deafening chorus of jeering from Everton's fans.

   2011 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Everton 0 - 2 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport

In a sentence

Master have mercy on my sonne, for he is franticke: and ys sore vexed.

1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew

Where it comes from

1. Late Latinphreneticus
2. Old Frenchfrenetique
3. Middle Englishfrantike
4. Englishfrantic

From Middle English frantike, frentik, variant of frenetik, from Old French frenetique, from Late Latin phreneticus, alteration of phreniticus, from φρενιτικός (phrenitikós, “mad, suffering from inflammation of the brain”), from φρενῖτις (phrenîtis, “inflammation of the brain”), from φρήν (phrḗn, “the brain”). Doublet of frenetic and phrenitic.