madman
UK: ˈmædmən | US: ˈmædmən
n. a man who is mentally ill or behaves in a wild, irrational manner
n. (archaic) a man who is extremely angry or frenzied
madman = mad<insane/angry> + man<male human>
- mad: From Old English gemǣdd ("out of one's mind"), derived from Proto-Germanic gamaidaz ("changed," implying unnatural mental state). Evolved to mean "insane" or "furious."
- man: From Old English mann ("human," originally gender-neutral but later specialized to "male adult").
Etymology Origin:
The compound "madman" emerged in Middle English (14th century), combining "mad" (already denoting insanity or rage) with "man" to specify a male individual exhibiting such behavior. The term reflects societal associations of mental instability with uncontrolled anger or irrationality, often used pejoratively.
The villagers feared the madman who wandered the woods at night.
In the play, the king’s jealousy turns him into a raving madman.
He shouted like a madman when he discovered the theft.
Medieval texts often depicted madmen as possessed by spirits.
The artist was called a madman for his unconventional methods.