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frenetico

frenetic

adjective freh-NEH-tee-koh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Manner

Origin: Greek phrenitis, 'brain fever'

Also means

frantic

Usage Note

Frenetico describes intense, agitated, uncontrolled activity: un ritmo frenetico ('a frantic pace'), applausi frenetici ('frenzied applause'). It is a true cognate with English 'frenetic' and shares the same meaning. The feminine is frenetica, plural frenetici/frenetiche. In older usage it could also mean 'mad' or 'delirious', but the activity-pace sense dominates today.

Examples

"Il traffico in centro è sempre frenetico."

Natural Translation

Traffic in the city centre is always frantic.

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