Insanity
/ɪnˈsæn.ɪ.ti/noun
A state of mind characterized by mental illness or severe emotional disturbance.
Did you know?The word 'insanity' is rooted in Latin, where 'sanus' meant 'healthy', hinting at the historical stigma around mental health as a moral failing.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
insania
“madness, folly”
Late Latin
Late Latin
insanitatis
“a lack of soundness, madness”
Middle English
Middle English
insanite
“madness, loss of reason”
16th Century
Early Modern English
insanity
“a state of being insane or mad”
Modern English
English
insanity
“the condition of being mentally ill, especially to a severe degree.”