Etymology Map
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Insane

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means mentally ill; extremely foolish

Where does the word "insane" come from? It comes from Latin insanus, adopted directly into English (1550s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
insanus
Latin · ancient
"mad"
'in-', not, plus 'sanus', healthy
2
Stage 2 of 2
insane
English · 1550s
"mad"
'insanely good' as slang dates from the 1900s
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Insane’s story begins in Latin: insanus meant “mad.” 'in-', not, plus 'sanus', healthy. It reached English by 1550s as insane. 'insanely good' as slang dates from the 1900s. Today, insane means mentally ill; extremely foolish.