[f. LUNATIC: see -ACY 3.]
1. The condition of being a lunatic; intermittent insanity such as was formerly supposed to be brought about by the changes of the moon; now applied gen. to any form of insanity (idiocy usually excepted). In legal use, such mental unsoundness as interferes with civil rights or transactions. † Also, a fit or attack of such insanity.
Commission of lunacy, a commission, issuing from a court, authorizing an inquiry as to the soundness of a person’s mind. Commissioner in lunacy, (a) the title given by the statute of 1842 to two officers then first appointed; in 1845 changed to Master in lunacy (see below); (b) in present use, a member of a board (now consisting of ten members) appointed by the Lord Chancellor to inspect asylums and grant licences to private persons who undertake the charge of lunatics. Master in lunacy, a legal officer whose duty it is to investigate the mental condition of persons alleged to be insane and to make orders dealing with the persons and estates of lunatics.
1541. Act 33 Hen VIII., c. 20 § 1. Suche persons … were … than not mad nor lunatike, but sithen that time fallen to madnes or lunacy.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. i. 4. Grating so harshly all his dayes of quiet With turbulent and dangerous Lunacy. Ibid., III. iii. 7. The termes of our estate, may not endure Hazard so dangerous as doth hourely grow Out of his Lunacies.
1611. Cotgr., Lunatique, Lunaticke, in a Lunacie.
1635. Swan, Spec. M., vii. § 3 (1643), 334. This disease of lunacie, is a disease whose distemper followeth the course of the moon.
1764. Burn, Poor Laws, 55. Persons, who by lunacy or otherwise are furiously mad.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 307. Taking advantage of John Lord Brereton’s being then under a commission of lunacy.
1874. Bucknill & Tuke, Psych. Med. (ed. 3), 14. If the Lord Chancellor … employ a person not a Commissioner in Lunacy to inspect … the state of any asylum, hospital, gaol, house, or place wherein any lunatic is confined.
1880. Libr. Univ. Knowl. (N. Y.), IX. 198. Declared a lunatic … by the certificate of a master in lunacy.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 453. The tendency … of all lunacy is to set at naught first and most frequently the optional and then the obligatory rules of conduct.
b. transf. and fig. Mad folly. Often in much weakened sense.
1588. Greene, Alcida (1617), E. One while accusing loue as a lunacie, and then againe [etc.].
1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle, IV. 1549. The hellish and mad lunacy Of them that doe commit apostacie For gold.
1733. Cheyne, Eng. Malady, Pref. (1734), 3. To put a Stop to so universal a Lunacy and Madness.
1817. Coleridge, Lay Serm., 425. The wicked lunacies of the gaming-table.
1884. Manch. Exam., 25 June, 5/2. All talk of this kind is mere lunacy, involving, moreover, a more than lunatic disregard of facts.
c. attrib.
1881. Encycl. Brit., XIII. 112/1. The commencement of legislation such as that known in England as the Lunacy Acts.
1887. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 12 Feb., 338/2. Under the present lunacy law.
1897. Daily News, 17 Feb., 5/1. Finding that he could not fill up the necessary lunacy forms.
† 2. = Moon-blindness. (Cf. LUNATIC 2 b.)
1600. Surflet, Country Farm, I. xxx. 200. The horse-mules are more tractable and more easie to guide and learne then the mare-mules be. Both of them are subiect to lunacie.
