Where does “madman” come from?
Madman is a compound of English mad and English man, with man deriving from Middle English man, Middle French -ie, Latin -ium, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European men-.
madman (English): A male who is insane or mentally disturbed
Definitions
- A male who is insane or mentally disturbed
Ancestry of “madman”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | MAD | Initialism of mutually assured destruction;... |
| 2 | Middle English | mad | Mad, insane, deranged; not of sound mind;... |
| 3 | Old English | ġemǣd | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | maidijaną | to exchange, change |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | maidaz | hurt, wounded; mad, foolish; angry, enraged |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mēy- | soft, tender, dear |