Panic

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: pan=ic

CIDE DICTIONARY

Panic, n. [L. panicum.].

 A plant of the genus Panicum; panic grass; also, the edible grain of some species of panic grass.  [1913 Webster]

Panic grass (Bot.), any grass of the genus Panicum.

Panic, a. [Gr. paniko`s of or pertaining to Pa`n Pan, to whom the causing of sudden fright was ascribed: cf. F. panique.].

 Extreme or sudden and causeless; unreasonable; -- said of fear or fright; as, panic fear, terror, alarm.  Dryden.  [1913 Webster]

Panic, n. [Gr. to~ paniko`n (with or without dei^ma fear): cf. F. panique. See Panic, a.].

•  A sudden, overpowering fright; esp., a sudden and groundless fright; terror inspired by a trifling cause or a misapprehension of danger; as, the troops were seized with a panic; they fled in a panic.  [1913 Webster]
•  By extension: A sudden widespread fright or apprehension concerning financial affairs.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Panic, n. & v.
--n.
1 a sudden uncontrollable fear or alarm. b (attrib.) characterized or caused by panic (panic buying).
2 infectious apprehension or fright esp. in commercial dealings.
--v.tr. & intr. (panicked, panicking) (often foll. by into) affect or be affected with panic (was panicked into buying).

Idiom

panic button a button for summoning help in an emergency. panic-monger a person who fosters a panic. panic stations a state of emergency. panic-stricken (or -struck) affected with panic; very apprehensive.

Derivative

panicky adj.

Panic, n. any grass of the genus Panicum, including millet and other cereals.

Etymology

OE f. L panicum f. panus thread on bobbin, millet-ear f. Gk penos web

THESAURUS

Panic

abject fear, affright, agitation, alarm, anxiety, apprehension, apprehensiveness, attack of nerves, awe, bear panic, belly laugh, blue funk, blue story, boggle, buck fever, case of nerves, cold feet, confound, consternation, cowardice, dirty joke, dirty story, discomfit, dismay, double entendre, dread, ethnic joke, excessive irritability, fear, fidgetiness, fidgets, fight shy, frenzy, fright, frighten, fun, funk, funny story, gag, go to pieces, good one, good story, horrification, horror, howl, howler, hysteria, jape, jest, jestbook, jib, joke, jump, jump a mile, laugh, morbid excitability, nerves, nervosity, nervous stomach, nervousness, panic fear, panickiness, phobia, play, point, put in fear, put to flight, put to rout, rib tickler, riot, rout, scare, scatter, scream, send scuttling, shy, sick joke, sidesplitter, sight gag, skedaddle, spell of nerves, sport, stage fright, stampede, start, start aside, startle, state of nerves, story, terrify, terror, tic, trepidation, twitching, uneasiness, unholy dread, unnerve, vellication, visual joke, wheeze, wow, yarn

ROGET THESAURUS

Panic

Fear

N fear, timidity, diffidence, want of confidence, apprehensiveness, fearfulness, solicitude, anxiety, care, apprehension, misgiving, feeze, mistrust, suspicion, qualm, hesitation, nervousness, restlessness, inquietude, disquietude, worry, concern, batophobia, heartquake, flutter, trepidation, fear and trembling, perturbation, tremor, quivering, shaking, trembling, throbbing heart, palpitation, ague fit, cold sweat, abject fear, mortal funk, heartsinking, despondency, despair, fright, affright, affrightment, boof alarm, dread, awe, terror, horror, dismay, consternation, panic, scare, stampede (of horses), intimidation, terrorism, reign of terror, bug bear, bugaboo, scarecrow, hobgoblin, nightmare, Gorgon, mormo, ogre, Hurlothrumbo, raw head and bloody bones, fee-faw-fum, bete noire, enfant terrible, alarmist, fearing, frightened, in fear, in a fright, haunted with the fear of, afeard, afraid, fearful, timid, timorous, nervous, diffident, coy, faint- hearted, tremulous, shaky, afraid of one's shadow, apprehensive, restless, fidgety, more frightened than hurt, aghast, awe-stricken, horror-stricken, terror-stricken, panic- stricken, awestruck, awe-stricken, horror-struck, frightened to death, white as a sheet, pale, pale as a ghost, pale as death, pale as ashes, breathless, in hysterics, inspiring fear, alarming, formidable, redoubtable, perilous, portentous, fearful, dread, dreadful, fell, dire, direful, shocking, terrible, terrific, tremendous, horrid, horrible, horrific, ghastly, awful, awe-inspiring, revolting, Gorgonian, in terrorem, Int, angels and ministers of grace defend us!, ante tubam trepidat, horresco referens, one's heart failing one, obstupui steteruntque comae et vox faucibus haesit, a dagger of the mind, expertus metuit, fain would I climb but that I fear to fall, fear is the parent of cruelty, Gorgons and hydras and chimeras dire, omnia tuta timens, our fears do make us traitors.