paranoia

Where does the word "paranoia" come from? It comes from Greek paranoia, passing through New Latin before entering English (1811).

Paranoia’s story begins in Greek: paranoia meant “a mind beside itself, madness.” Madness, from para- (beside, beyond) and noos (mind). By 1800s, the word had taken hold in New Latin as paranoia. Hippocrates used Greek 'paranoia' for madness; Kraepelin defined its modern sense around 1900. It reached English by 1811 as paranoia. Settled as the English word for extreme, irrational distrust of others. Today, paranoia means an irrational and persistent feeling that people are threatening or plotting against you.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient paranoia "a mind beside itself, madness", madness, from para- (beside, beyond) and noos (mind).
2. Stage 2 · New Latin · 1800s paranoia "a psychiatric condition of irrational suspicion", Hippocrates used Greek 'paranoia' for madness; Kraepelin defined its modern sense around 1900.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1811 paranoia "extreme, irrational distrust of others", settled as the English word for extreme, irrational distrust of others.