panic
/ˈpæn.ɪk/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
πανικός — of or relating to Pan
Overview
Meaning Now
- Sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behavior.
- A sudden widespread concern about financial or social matters.
Literal older meaning
pertaining to the god Pan
Language path
Ancient Greek → French → English
Earliest form
panick
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term originates from the Greek god Pan, the deity of the wild, shepherds, and flocks. According to mythology, Pan could produce sudden, overwhelming feelings of fear in those who heard his pipe or voice in isolated places, leading to the phrase 'panic terror'.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
panikos
“of Pan”
Derived from the god Pan, who was believed to cause sudden, groundless terror in forests.
- French
panique
“sudden fear”
Borrowed as an adjective for 'terreur panique'.
- 17th century English
panick
“sudden terror”
Initially used in the phrase 'panic fear'.
Connections
Word parts
pan-
root
the god Pan
-ic
suffix
relating to
Related across languages
French
panique
panic
Spanish
pánico
panic
Explore next
Related to panic
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.