madding

[ mad-ing ]

adjective

1. acting madly or senselessly; insane; frenzied:

   a quiet place far from the madding crowd.

2. making mad:

   a madding grief.

madding

/ ˈmædɪŋ /

adjective

1. acting or behaving as if mad

   the madding crowd

2. making mad; maddening

Derived Forms

• ˈmaddingly, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of madding¹

1300–50; Middle English. See mad (v.), -ing ²

Example Sentences

Little did I know that by heading away from the madding crowd of humanity and my father’s vocation, I would end up writing a sequel to another famous novel of the 1950s—Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged.

From Nautilus

Exit the fellow traveler, looking for a movie far from the madding goons at Winterland.

From The Daily Beast

The luxuriant growth of reeds around the lakes gives the feeling of utter seclusion from the madding crowd.

From Project Gutenberg

With that settled, I'm encouraged to pour out the story of why you see me here to-night, far from the madding crowd.

From Project Gutenberg

Here reigned that idyllic peace “far from the madding crowd,” which Horatius Flaccus had sung in his famous odes.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a pretty fancy for a fellow who has not a cross, to run madding after what is meat for his betters.

From Project Gutenberg

The earl disserppeard into the madding crowd and presently came back with a middle aged gentleman.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• frantic