raving

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of rave

plural ravings

1. plural normallyWild, incoherent, or irrational talk.

   A production without design would resemble more the ravings of a madman, than the sober efforts of genius and learning.

   1748, David Hume, Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, Section 3. § 5

   1 more example

   Those words appearing to be merely the ravings of superannuation, they were not regarded; but when no other traces of Mary could be found, old Andrew went up to consult this crazy dame once more, but he was not able to bring any such thing to her recollection.

   1828, James Hogg, Mary Burnet

comparative more raving · superlative most raving

1. Talking wildly.

   Oh, what an extraordinary idea! I have served 11 governments in the past 30 years. If I'd believed in all their policies, [proceeds to describe contradictory policies by different parties], but above all, I would have been a stark-staring raving schizophrenic! (laugh track).

   1980 March 3, Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn, “The Whisky Priest”, in Yes, Minister, season 3, episode 20, spoken by Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne)

2. Causing excitement or wild praise.

   She was not considered a raving beauty.

comparative more raving · superlative most raving

1. Incoherently

   He went stark, raving mad.