Melomaniacs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. People characterized by an overwhelming love for music
2. Those who exhibit extreme enthusiasm and fixation towards musical art forms
3. People who have a deep and devoted interest in listening to or appreciating music

Etymology: "Melomaniacs" is the plural of "melomaniac," a noun built from two Greek-derived parts. The first, "melo-," comes from Ancient Greek "mélos," meaning song, melody or tune. The second, "-maniac," comes from French "maniaque," which passed through Late Latin "maniacus" from Ancient Greek "maniakós." That Greek adjective grows from "manía," meaning madness or mad desire, a word that also gave English "mania" and "manic." Put together, the word describes someone with an excessive, almost frenzied passion for music. The "-maniac" element carries the same sense it has in older compounds such as "kleptomaniac" or "pyromaniac," where a compulsion is pushed to the edge of madness. Here the compulsion is simply for melody, which makes the word a playful, mildly exaggerated way of calling someone a devoted music fan.