apoplectic

WOTD - 12 June 2007    

English

Etymology

From [[w:Template:lang:la language|Template:lang:la]][[Category:Template:lang:la derivations]] apoplēcticus (possibly via French apoplectique) from Ancient Greek ἀποπληκτικός (apoplēktikos) < ἀπόπληκτος (apoplēktos) < ἀποπλήσσω (apoplēssō) < ἀπό (apo) "of, from" + πλήσσω (plēssō) "I strike".

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌæpəˈplɛktɪk/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɛktɪk

Adjective

apoplectic (not comparable)

Positive apoplectic

Comparative not comparable

Superlative none (absolute)

1. Of, or relating to apoplexy.
2. Extremely angry or furious to the point of being unable to move or speak.
3. (archaic) Effused with blood.

Quotations

• 1960 — Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, ch 11

  Once she heard Jem refer to our father as 'Atticus' and her reaction was apoplectic.

• 2005 — (author?), The New Yorker, (page?) (12 Dec)

  "Speak of the devil—he marches through the door, and becomes apoplectic when he learns of the upheaval."

Related terms

• apoplexy

Translations

of or relating to apoplexy

German: apoplektisch

Spanish: apopléjico, apoplético

extremely angry and unable to speak

Finnish: (of a person) raivoissaan, raivostunut, (of anger) silmitön

effused with blood

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