delirium

[ dih-leer-ee-uhm ]

noun

, plural de·lir·i·ums, de·lir·i·a [dih-, leer, -ee-, uh].

1. Pathology. a more or less temporary disorder of the mental faculties, as in fevers, disturbances of consciousness, or intoxication, characterized by restlessness, excitement, delusions, hallucinations, etc.
2. a state of violent excitement or emotion.

delirium

/ dɪˈlɪrɪəm /

noun

1. a state of excitement and mental confusion, often accompanied by hallucinations, caused by high fever, poisoning, brain injury, etc
2. violent excitement or emotion; frenzy

Derived Forms

• deˈliriant, adjective

Other Words From

• semi·de·liri·um noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of delirium¹

1590–1600; < Latin dēlīrium frenzy, equivalent to dēlīr ( āre ) ( deliration ) + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of delirium¹

C16: from Latin: madness, from dēlīrāre, literally: to swerve from a furrow, hence be crazy, from de- + līra ridge, furrow

Example Sentences

I spend waking hours in a fog of delirium, punctuated by uncontrollable giggle fits, heart palpitations, and mental anguish.

From The Daily Beast

It's not delirium tremors and chromosome breakage and only a small number of users would be seriously harmed.

From The Daily Beast

After Joe watches her father suffer delirium in the hospital, she says she felt "nothing" when he dies.

From The Daily Beast

And they reacted to the announcement with measured delirium, sending equities to their highest levels in nearly four years.

From The Daily Beast

Republicans were never overwhelmed by Mitt Romney; the Democratic delirium for Barack Obama faded two recovery summers ago.

From The Daily Beast

I nursed him through several attacks of delirium tremens, and was always in fear that he would get out and disgrace us.

From Project Gutenberg

During the delirium of the fever, Dorothy raved continually about her mother, and dared not be left a moment alone in the dark.

From Project Gutenberg

The head is painful, and the patient is now and then even affected with delirium.

From Project Gutenberg

The deep-set eyes of the soldier glowed with an unnatural fire, and he was muttering to himself, as if in delirium.

From Project Gutenberg

It is most frequent among those whose addiction to alcohol for years has caused repeated paroxysms of delirium tremens.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fever
• hallucination
• hysteria