ma|ni|a

ma|ni|a «MAY nee uh», noun.

1. a kind of insanity characterized by great excitement; form or phase of mental disorder, characterized by extremes of joy or rage, uncontrolled and often violent activity, extravagant and irregular speech, and the like, often followed by depression. It is a recurring state in manic-depressive psychosis.

2. an unusual or unreasonable fondness; craze: »

a mania for gardening, a mania for dancing. He has a mania for collecting old bottles.

╂[< Latin mania < Greek maníā madness < maínesthai rage, be mad]