panics
|pan-ic|
/ˈpænɪks/
(panic)
sudden fear
Etymology
'panic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'panikon', where 'Pan' referred to the god Pan, whose presence was believed to cause sudden, uncontrollable fear.
'panic' passed into English via Late Latin 'panicus' and French 'panique' and entered modern English in the late 16th century as 'panic'.
Initially it meant 'pertaining to Pan, causing sudden fear', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'sudden, overwhelming fear or alarm'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a sudden, overwhelming fear or anxiety that often leads to irrational behavior; an instance of such widespread fear.
Stock market panics can spread quickly across countries.
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Noun 2
a sudden, widespread financial or economic crisis caused by loss of confidence (countable as 'panics').
There were several panics in the banking sector during that period.
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Verb 1
to suddenly become very anxious or afraid so that one cannot behave or think calmly (intransitive).
He panics whenever there is a loud noise.
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Last updated: 2025/11/02 10:01