Origin of fanaticfrom Classical Latin fanaticus, of a temple, hence enthusiastic, inspired from fanum, a temple: see fane
The definition of a fanatic is a person who is overly excited and interested in something.
An example of fanatic is someone with a room devoted to Elvis Presley in their two-bedroom house.
A person marked or motivated by an extreme, unreasoning enthusiasm, as for a cause.
Origin of fanaticLatin fānāticus inspired by orgiastic rites, pertaining to a temple from fānum temple ; see dhēs- in Indo-European roots.
(comparative more fanatic, superlative most fanatic)
- A person who is zealously enthusiastic for some cause, especially in religion.
- If the horseracing fanatic, Brandon, was there, he'd call this man a wild mustang.
- At the head of his troops, who idolized him, he was a Cromwell, adding to the zeal of a fanatic and the energy of the born leader the special military skill and trained soldierly spirit which the English commander had to gain by experience.
- "Indeed," said the old fanatic, "I am afraid that you have."
- The room was a-chatter with foreign conversation, the words having nothing to do with national roots but the fanatic avocation of the gathered guests.
- BARTHOLOMEW LEGATE (c. 1 5751612), English fanatic, was born in Essex and became a dealer in cloth.