Unhinged
/ʌnˈhɪndʒd/noun
Emotionally or mentally unstable; deranged.
Did you know?The term 'hinge' originally referred to a mechanism that allows doors and gates to swing freely, symbolizing how the mind can swing into madness when 'unhinged'.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
Old English
hinge
“A pivot or mechanism that allows movement, often symbolizing stability.”
14th Century
Middle English
unhinged
“To remove from a hinge, metaphorically indicating the loss of stability.”
16th Century
English
unhinged
“To disrupt normal function, used in both physical and mental contexts.”
Modern English
English
unhinged
“A term for someone exhibiting extreme emotional instability, derived from the notion of losing one's mental 'hinges'.”