Hypertext Webster Gateway: "fanatic"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Fanatic \Fa*nat"ic\, a. [L. fanaticus inspired by divinity,
enthusiastic, frantic, fr. fanum fane: cf. F. fanatique. See
{Fane}.]
Pertaining to, or indicating, fanaticism; extravagant in
opinions; ultra; unreasonable; excessively enthusiastic,
especially on religious subjects; as, fanatic zeal; fanatic
notions.
But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast To some dear
falsehood, hugs it to the last. --T. Moore.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Fanatic \Fa*nat"ic\, n.
A person affected by excessive enthusiasm, particularly on
religious subjects; one who indulges wild and extravagant
notions of religion.
There is a new word, coined within few months, called
fanatics, which, by the close stickling thereof,
seemeth well cut out and proportioned to signify what
is meant thereby, even the sectaries of our age.
--Fuller
(1660).
Fanatics are governed rather by imagination than by
judgment. --Stowe.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
fanatic
adj : marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a
cause or idea; "rabid isolationist" [syn: {fanatical},
{overzealous}, {rabid}]
n : a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm (as for a cause)
[syn: {fiend}]
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.