n. 1. A psychotic or otherwise mentally ill person who exhibits violent or bizarre behavior. Not used in psychiatric diagnosis. 2. A person who has an excessive enthusiasm or desire for something: a sports maniac. 3. A person who acts in a wildly irresponsible way: maniacs on the highway. adj. [From Late Latin maniacus, maniacal, from Greek maniakos, from maniā, madness; see men-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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