mania

Where does the word "mania" come from? It comes from Greek mania, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

Mania’s story begins in Greek: mania meant “madness, frenzy.” Madness, frenzy, related to menos (spirit, passion). By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as mania. Carried into Latin for the same frenzied state. It reached English by 1300s as mania. Settled as the English word for a state of abnormally elevated excitement. Today, mania means a state of extreme excitement or an excessive enthusiasm for something.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient mania "madness, frenzy", madness, frenzy, related to menos (spirit, passion).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient mania "madness, frenzy", carried into Latin for the same frenzied state.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s mania "a state of abnormally elevated excitement or excessive enthusiasm", settled as the English word for a state of abnormally elevated excitement.