Balletomania
/ˌbæl.əˈtɒm.i.ə/noun
An excessive enthusiasm or obsession with ballet.
Did you know?Balletomania is a modern hybrid built from French ballet plus Greek mania, and that same ancient root gave English words like mania, manic, and demonic-style frenzy language.
Etymological Timeline
Italian Renaissance
Italian
balletto
“A small dance or dance piece.”
16th Century
French
ballet
“A courtly dance performance.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
mania
“Madness, frenzy, divine or inspired frenzy.”
19th Century
English
balletomania
“An intense craze for ballet.”
Explore more surprising origins