Panicked
/ˈpæn.ɪkt/noun
Thrown into sudden, intense fear or alarm.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Pan, the Greek rustic god whose sudden, unexplained terror was believed to strike travelers in wild places — the original source of “panic.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Panikos
“Of or pertaining to Pan; later, sudden and overwhelming fear”
Late Latin
Latin
panicus
“Of Pan; panic-stricken”
16th Century
French
panique
“Sudden terror, especially fear caused by supernatural or unexplained forces”
16th Century
English
panic
“Sudden, unreasoning fear”
Modern English
English
panicked
“Thrown into sudden fear or alarm”
Explore more surprising origins