berserk

[ ber-surk, -zurk ]
/ bərˈsɜrk, -ˈzɜrk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR berserk ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

violently or destructively frenzied; wild; crazed; deranged: He suddenly went berserk.

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter) Scandinavian Legend. Also ber·serk·er. an ancient Norse warrior who fought with frenzied rage in battle, possibly induced by eating hallucinogenic mushrooms.

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DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
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decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
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Origin of berserk

1865–70; < Old Norse berserkr, equivalent to ber- (either *ber-, base of bjǫrn bear2 or berr bare1) + serkr sark, shirt, armor

OTHER WORDS FROM berserk

ber·serk·ly, adverbber·serk·ness, noun

Words nearby berserk

berry, chuck, berryfruit, berryman, bersagliere, berseem, berserk, bert, berth, bertha, berthage, berthelot
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to berserk

crazy, demented, deranged, insane, mad, maniacal, manic, violent

Example sentences from the Web for berserk

British Dictionary definitions for berserk

berserk
/ (bəˈzɜːk, -ˈsɜːk) /

adjective

frenziedly violent or destructive (esp in the phrase go berserk)

noun

Also called: berserker a member of a class of ancient Norse warriors who worked themselves into a frenzy before battle and fought with insane fury and courage

Word Origin for berserk

C19: Icelandic berserkr, from björn bear + serkr shirt
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012