Word of the week – Apoplectic

Apoplectic

DEFINITION:

1610s, “involving apoplexy,” from French apoplectique (16c.), from Latin apoplecticus, from Greek apoplektikos “disabled by a stroke, crippled, struck dumb, senseless; crippled, palsied.

Modern definition:

Adjective: meaning overcome with anger; furious.  Links to older meaning as you are so angry you cannot move.

CHARACTERISTICS Example in a sentence:

Mary was apoplectic with rage when she discovered that she had missed the train.

EXAMPLES (synonyms):

enraged

incensed

vehement

infuriated

wrathful

NON-EXAMPLES (antonyms):

calm

cheerful

gentle

peaceful

pleased

Do you know what ‘foaming at the mouth’ means?

When we say someone, or something, is ‘foaming at the mouth’ we mean that they are extremely angry.

Origin – the story:

This phrase is likely to have originated from the rabies virus which can cause those infected to foam at the mouth.

When someone has contracted rabies, swallowing is very difficult and saliva therefore builds and leads to the ‘foaming’ referred to in the phrase.

Example: They were so angry, they were foaming at the mouth!