Search the Dictionary

Pertaining to, or indicating, fanaticism; extravagant in opinions; ultra; unreasonable; excessively enthusiastic, especially on religious subjects; as, fanatic zeal; fanatic notions. But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last. T. Moore.

Excessive enthusiasm, unreasoning zeal, or wild and extravagant notions, on any subject, especially religion; religious frenzy.

Extravagant; above real value. This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led his [Frederick the Great's] father to pay fancy prices for giants. Macaulay. Fancy ball, a ball in which porsons appear in fanciful dresses in imitation of the costumes of different persons and nations. -- Fancy fair, a…

In a fast or rapid manner; quickly; swiftly; extravagantly; wildly; as, to run fast; to live fast. Fast by, or Fast beside, close or near to; near at hand. He, after Eve seduced, unminded slunk Into the wood fast by. Milton. Fast by the throne obsequious Fame resides. Pope.

offspring or work; to put or lay upon as being responsible. "Nothing can be so uncouth or extravagant, which may not be fathered on some fetch of wit, or some caprice of humor." Barrow.

Extravagant, like some stories about catching fish; improbable; also, rank or foul. [Colloq.]

estrained liberty; "Leaving corrupt nature to . . . the full swing and freedom of its own extravagant actings." South (Colloq.) -- In full, at length; uncontracted; unabridged; written out in words, and not indicated by figures. -- In full blast. See under Blast.

Excess in eating; extravagant indulgence of the appetite for food; voracity. Their sumptuous gluttonies, and gorgeous feasts. Milton.

the figures found in ancient grottoes; grottolike; wildly or strangely formed; whimsical; extravagant; of irregular forms and proportions; fantastic; ludicrous; antic. "Grotesque design." Dryden. "Grotesque incidents." Macaulay.

Delirious; senselessly extravagant; as, the man is clean gyte. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

yssey, and Æneas in the Æneid. The shining quality of an epic hero. Dryden. Hero worship, extravagant admiration for great men, likened to the ancient worship of heroes. Hero worship exists, has existed, and will forever exist, universally among mankind. Carlyle.

Costly; dear in price; extravagant; as, to hold goods at a high price. If they must be good at so high a rate, they know they may be safe at a cheaper. South.

Turgid; extravagant; bombastic; inflated; as, high-flown language. M. Arnold.

One who is extravagant in pretensions, opinions, or manners. Swift.

Extravagant in opinions or ambition. "Highflying, arbitrary kings." Dryden.

through excitement, or for effect. Our common forms of compliment are almost all of them extravagant hyperboles. Blair. Somebody has said of the boldest figure in rhetoric, the hyperbole, that it lies without deceiving. Macaulay.

Not moderate; exceeding just or usual and suitable bounds; excessive; extravagant; unreasonable; as, immoderate demands; immoderate grief; immoderate laughter. So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint. Shak.

lent; lifeless. The inert and desponding party of the court. Macaulay. It present becomes extravagant, then imbecile, and at length utterly inert. I. Taylor.

To inspire with a foolish and extravagant passion; as, to be infatuated with gaming. The people are . . . infatuated with the notion. Addison.

acteristic (expressed by an adjective); as, a free liver. Fast liver, one who lives in an extravagant and dissipated way. -- Free liver, Good liver, one given to the pleasures of the table. -- Loose liver, a person who lives a somewhat dissolute life.