pyromaniac
|py/ro/ma/ni/ac|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌpaɪroʊˈmeɪniæk/
🇬🇧
/ˌpaɪrəˈmeɪniæk/
fire obsession
Etymology
Etymology Information
'pyromaniac' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'pyros' meaning 'fire' and 'mania' meaning 'madness'.
Historical Evolution
'pyromaniac' changed from the Greek word 'pyromania' and eventually became the modern English word 'pyromaniac'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'madness for fire', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a person with an uncontrollable impulse to start fires'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who has an uncontrollable impulse to start fires.
The fire department suspected the blaze was started by a pyromaniac.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45