panic

Where does the word "panic" come from? It comes from Greek Pan, passing through French before entering English (1600s).

Panic’s story begins in Greek: Pan meant “the god Pan.” The god of the wild, said to cause sudden irrational fear in flocks and travelers. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as panique. Carried into French for the god's sudden, contagious fear. It reached English by 1600s as panic. Settled as the English word for sudden uncontrollable fear. Today, panic means sudden, uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often spreading through a group.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient Pan "the god Pan", the god of the wild, said to cause sudden irrational fear in flocks and travelers.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1600s panique "sudden overwhelming fear", carried into French for the god's sudden, contagious fear.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s panic "sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety", settled as the English word for sudden uncontrollable fear.