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delirium

Pronunciation: /dɪˈlɪrɪəm/

Translate delirium | into German | into Italian

Definition of delirium

noun

[mass noun]

an acutely disturbed state of mind characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence, occurring in intoxication, fever, and other disorders: somewhere a patient shouted in delirium she had fits of delirium
wild excitement or ecstasy: a chorus of delirium from the terrace

Origin:

mid 16th century: from Latin, from delirare 'deviate, be deranged' (literally 'deviate from the furrow'), from de- 'away' + lira 'ridge between furrows'