paranœa

UK/ˌpæɹəˈniːə/

A form of paranoia — A psychotic disorder, now called delusional disorder, often (in one of six subtypes) characterized by delusions of persecution and a perceived threat against the individual affected with the disorder, and often associated with false accusations and a general mistrust of others.

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Meanings

nounparanœa (uncountable)
  1. dateduncountableDated form of paranoia.

    Paranœa

    1907, Nevada Legislature, Appendix to Journals of Senate and Assembly…of the Legislature, volume 23, page 53, table XXII: “Form of mental diseases of those remaining December 31, 1906”
    4 more examples

    PARANŒA, (παρανοια, from para, and νους, ‘understanding.’) Delirium, Dementia.

    1865, Robley Dunglison, Medical Lexicon: A Dictionary of Medical Science, Henry C. Lea (publisher, 1866), page 710

    Paranœa may recover, but tends to fixed delusions and dementia.

    1898, William Blair Stewart, A Synopsis of the Practice of Medicine, E.B. Treat and Co., page 409

    Does paranœa ever lead to murder, Mr. Nicholson?

    1904–5, Robert Barr, The Speculations of John Steele, Frederick A. Stokes Company (1905), page 269

    Self‐pity is the first symptom of paranœa.

    1912, Elbert Hubbard, Hollyhocks and Goldenglow, The Roycrofters, page 92
Cite this entry
APA

paranœa. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paran%C5%93a

MLA

“paranœa.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paran%C5%93a. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “paranœa,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paran%C5%93a.

Source: paranœa on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.