Stan

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A term used to denote an extremely devoted fan, often characterized by obsessive admiration and loyalty towards a celebrity or fictional character
2. A combination of "stalker" and "fan," emphasizing the fervent and sometimes unhealthy devotion to a public figure or artistic work
3. Often used in popular culture to describe a person who passionately discusses and promotes their idol, even to the point of irrational behavior

Etymology: The word comes from a person's name, though not a real one. In 2000 the rapper Eminem released the song "Stan," a fictitious account of a letter-writing fan so obsessed with him that the story ends in tragedy. The character's name became a byword for an overzealous admirer, and the noun "stan" soon spread well beyond the song. Many people assume the word blends "stalker" and "fan," and that is a plausible reading, but the source suggests the name may simply have been picked for its rhyme with "fan." Either way, the term was then reshaped as a verb, and speakers began to treat the ending "-stan" as a free-standing element that could be pulled back out of the name, which is why the verb form "to stan" (meaning to be an avid supporter of someone) is a back-formation.

Synonyms: fan, admirer, supporter, enthusiast, devotee

Antonyms: hater, critic, detractor, enemy, opponent