a. and sb. Forms: α. 6 fanatike, 6–8 -ick(e, 7 -ique, 7– fanatic. β. 6 phanatik, 6–8 -ic(k, 7 -ique. [ad. L. fanātic-us, f. fānum temple: see -ATIC. Cf. Fr. fanatique.]
A. adj.
† 1. Of an action or speech: Such as might result from possession by a deity or demon; frantic, furious. Of a person: Frenzied, mad. Obs.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, IV. (1822), 356. This uncouth and terribil buschement, armit with firebrandis, and schinand all with blesand flammes, ruschit, as thay had bene instrukkit, with phanatik and wod cours on thare inemyis.
c. 1534. trans. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden), I. 71. Noe manne should to farre welter in such fanatike and fond observations.
1599. Minsheu, Pleasant and Delightfull Dialogues in Spanish and English (1623). Fanatick, mad, franticke, also inspired with a prophetical furie.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1638), 221. Some think … the torryd Zone, die fierie sword; and such other fanatick fancies.
1641. Baker, Chron., 148. A fanatick fellow … gave forth, that himselfe was the true Edward.
1655–60. T. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 494/2. Persons divinely inspired, and fanatick, imagine they hear others discoursing with them, whom we hear not.
1721–1800. in Bailey.
† b. Comb.
1603. Chettle, Eng. Mourn. Garment, in Harl. Misc. (1793), 202. They are … proud, fanatick-spirited counterfeits.
2. Of persons, their actions, attributes, etc.: Characterized, influenced, or prompted by excessive and mistaken enthusiasm, esp. in religious matters.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., IV. (1702), I. 266. The Lord Mayor … Opposing all their Fanatick humours … grew to be reckon’d in the First Form of the Malignants.
1659. Bp. Walton, Consid. Considered, 169. Papists, Atheists, and fanatic persons.
1659–60. Monk, Sp., 6 Feb., in Wood, Life (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), I. 303. Be careful neither the cavalier nor phanatique party have yet a share in your civil or military power.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 215.
| What mad fantastic Gambola have been plaid | |
| By th’ antient Greek Forefather of the Trade, | |
| That were not much inferior to the Freaks | |
| Of all our lunatic fanatic Sects? |
1704. Swift, T. Tub, i. 26. The Two principal Qualifications of a Phanatic Preacher are, his Inward Light, and his Head full of Maggots; and the Two different Fates of his Writings are, to be burnt or worn-eaten.
1774. Pennant, Tour Scotl. in 1772, 58. The cloisters and other reliques of the priory, fell in after-times victims to fanatic fury.
1850. W. Irving, Mahomet, x. (1853), 39. The Fanatic legions of the desert.
1883. Manch. Exam., 30 Oct., 5/5. Banded … in fanatic and violent opposition to the measure.
B. sb.
† 1. A mad person. In later use: A religious maniac. Obs.
c. 1525. Robin Hood, 160. Fool, fanatick, baboon.
1655. M. Casaubon, Enthusiasme, 7. One Orpheus, a mere fanatick.
1806. Med. Jrnl., XV. 213. Dr. G[all] gave … hints how to treat fanatics, by using topical remedies and poultices.
2. A fanatic person; a visionary; an unreasoning enthusiast. Applied in the latter half of the 17th c. to Nonconformists as a hostile epithet.
1644. Abp. Maxwell, Sacrosancta Regum Majestas, 44. Gratia gratum faciens, Saving Grace, as some fanatickes and fantastickes fondly imagine.
1657. John Gaule, Sapient. Justif., 11. Enthusiasts, Anabaptists, Fanaticks, and Familists.
1660. Fuller, Mixt. Contempl. (1841), 212. A new word coined, within few months, called fanatics … seemeth well … proportioned to signify … the sectaries of our age.
1660. Pepys, Diary, 15 April. Since Lambert got out of the Tower, the Fanatiques had held up their heads high.
1709. Evans, in Hearne, Collect., 10 Nov. D. Sacheverel … thunderd … against ye phanaticks.
1780. J. Harris, Philol. Enq. (1841), 430. When Henry the Fourth of France, the triumphant sovereign of a great people, was unexpectedly murdered by a wretched fanatic, we cannot help saying, it was a tragical story.
1859. Kingsley, Sir W. Raleigh, I. 20. The man of one idea, who works at nothing but that … sacrifices everything to that; the fanatic in short.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., Ser. IV. iii. 269. The Jews, as the Romans had found to their cost, were troublesome fanatics whom it was equally difficult to govern or destroy. When the political constitution of a nation is abolished, its lands taken from it, and its people scattered, the atoms are usually absorbed into other combinations, and the nation ceases to exist. The Romans made an end of Jerusalem; they levelled the Temple with the ground; so far as force could do it, they annihilated the Jewish nationality. They were no nearer their end than when they began.
b. A fanatical devotee of.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 66. To dispute as if they were in a conflict with some of those exploded fanaticks of slavery, who formerly maintained, what I believe no creature now maintains, ‘that the crown is held by divine, hereditary, and indefensible right.’
c. Comb.
1707. E. Ward, Hud. Rediv. (1715), II. ix. To show, tho’ conquer’d, they abhor (Fanatick like) all sov’reign Pow’r.
1722. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), II. VII. 62. This was the issue of Robinson’s mischievous intent to go a fanatick hunting.
Hence † Fanaticness Obs., fanaticalness.
1662. J. Sparrow, trans. Behme’s Rem. Wks., Complexions, 17. Which is Phrenzie, Madnesse and Phanatiquenesse.
1665. J. Sergeant, Sure-footing in Chr., 108. The denying Tradition is a proper and necessary disposition to Fanatickness.
