hysteric

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: hys=ter=ic

CIDE DICTIONARY

hysteric, a. [L. hystericus, Gr. , fr. "yste`ra the womb; perh. akin to latter, later, and E. utter, out.].

•  Of or pertaining to hysteria.  [1913 Webster]

  "With no hysteric weakness or feverish excitement, they preserved their peace and patience."  [1913 Webster]
•  In a state of hysteria; affected, or troubled, with hysterics; uncontrollably emotional; convulsive, fitful.  [1913 Webster]
•  In a state of panic or behaving in a wild irrational manner, due to fear or emotional trauma.  [PJC]
•  Resembling hysteria; as, hysterical laughter.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

hysteric, n. & adj.
--n.
1 (in pl.) a a fit of hysteria. b colloq. overwhelming mirth or laughter (we were in hysterics).
2 a hysterical person.
--adj. = HYSTERICAL.

Etymology

L f. Gk husterikos of the womb (hustera), hysteria being thought to occur more frequently in women than in men and to be associated with the womb

ROGET THESAURUS

hysteric

Violence

N violence, inclemency, vehemence, might, impetuosity, boisterousness, effervescence, ebullition, turbulence, bluster, uproar, callithump, riot, row, rumpus, le diable a quatre, devil to pay, all the fat in the fire, severity, ferocity, rage, fury, exacerbation, exasperation, malignity, fit, paroxysm, orgasm, climax, aphrodisia, force, brute force, outrage, coup de main, strain, shock, shog, spasm, convulsion, throe, hysterics, passion, outbreak, outburst, debacle, burst, bounce, dissilience, discharge, volley, explosion, blow up, blast, detonation, rush, eruption, displosion, torrent, turmoil, ferment, storm, tempest, rough weather, squall, earthquake, volcano, thunderstorm, berserk, berserker, fury, dragon, demon, tiger, beldame, Tisiphone, Megaera, Alecto, madcap, wild beast, fire eater, violent, vehement, warm, acute, sharp, rough, rude, ungentle, bluff, boisterous, wild, brusque, abrupt, waspish, impetuous, rampant, turbulent, disorderly, blustering, raging, troublous, riotous, tumultuary, tumultuous, obstreperous, uproarious, extravagant, unmitigated, ravening, inextinguishable, tameless, frenzied, desperate, infuriate, furious, outrageous, frantic, hysteric, in hysterics, fiery, flaming, scorching, hot, red-hot, ebullient, savage, fierce, ferocious, fierce as a tiger, excited, unquelled, unquenched, unextinguished, unrepressed, unbridled, unruly, headstrong, ungovernable, unappeasable, immitigable, unmitigable, uncontrollable, incontrollable, insuppressible, irrepressible, orgastic, orgasmatic, orgasmic, spasmodic, convulsive, explosive, detonating, volcanic, meteoric, stormy, violently, amain, by storm, by force, by main force, with might and main, tooth and nail, vi et armis, at the point of the sword, at the point of the bayonet, at one fell swoop, with a high hand, through thick and thin, in desperation, with a vengeance, a outrance, a toute outrance, headlong, head foremost, furor arma ministrat, blown with restless violence round about the pende.