delirium

[ dih-leer-ee-uhm ]
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noun,plural de·lir·i·ums, de·lir·i·a [dih-leer-ee-uh]. /dɪˈlɪər i ə/.
  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.

Origin of delirium

1
1590–1600; <Latin dēlīrium frenzy, equivalent to dēlīr(āre) (see deliration) + -ium-ium

Other words from delirium

  • sem·i·de·lir·i·um, noun

Words Nearby delirium

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British Dictionary definitions for delirium

delirium

/ (dɪˈlɪrɪəm) /


nounplural -liriums or -liria (-ˈlɪrɪə)
  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

Origin of delirium

1
C16: from Latin: madness, from dēlīrāre, literally: to swerve from a furrow, hence be crazy, from de- + līra ridge, furrow

Derived forms of delirium

  • deliriant, adjective

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