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berserk

[ ber-surk, -zurk ]
/ bərˈsɜrk, -ˈzɜrk /
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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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Origin of berserk

1865–70; <Old Norse berserkr, equivalent to ber- (either *ber-, base of bjǫrnbear2 or berrbare1) + serkrsark, shirt, armor

OTHER WORDS FROM berserk

ber·serk·ly, adverbber·serk·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to berserk

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

How to use berserk in a sentence

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
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