Madnesse

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A state of severe mental derangement or insanity ; conduct marked by extreme foolishness or lack of judgment ; a state of violent agitation or wild fury
2. Profound mental disorder or loss of reason ; behavior showing reckless disregard for consequences ; an intense outburst of uncontrolled anger or excitement
3. Serious derangement of the mind ; foolish or senseless action taken without regard to sense ; a frenzied or turbulent condition of extreme emotion

Etymology: In Middle English, "madnesse" was a perfectly ordinary spelling of the word we now write "madness," and the extra final "e" was a common feature of Middle English and early modern spelling. The word was built from "mad" plus the suffix "-nesse," which turns an adjective into a noun for a state or quality. Both parts were already in use in Old English, so the compound is much older than its spelling suggests. The older root behind "mad" is less settled. Old English had "gemǣd," which meant "insane" or "foolish," and its sense was closely tied to "mad" as a state of disturbed or frenzied mind. Older English also used "mad" to mean "angry," a sense that survives in the everyday phrase "mad at someone." Scholars are less certain about the deeper Germanic origin of the root.