Melomania
/ˌmɛləˈmeɪniə/noun
An excessive or unusually intense enthusiasm for music.
Did you know?Its second element, mania, comes from Ancient Greek for frenzy or madness and was also associated with divinely inspired ecstatic states.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*melh₂-
“To grind or crush; a proposed ancient root connected with Greek mélos, though the deeper origin is uncertain.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μέλος (mélos)
“Song, melody, or musical limb/part.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μανία (manía)
“Madness, frenzy, or ecstatic possession; from μαίνομαι (maínomai), “to rage” or “be mad.””
19th Century
French
mélomanie
“An excessive passion for music; formed from mél(o)-, “music,” and -manie, “mania.””
19th Century
English
melomania
“An excessive enthusiasm for music, adopted from French.”