ˈlünəsē, -si noun
( -es )
Etymology: luna tic + -cy
1.
a. : insanity interrupted by lucid intervals that was formerly supposed to be influenced by the changes of the moon
grating so harshly all his days of quiet with turbulent and dangerous lunacy — Shakespeare
b. : any form of insanity ; also : the state of being a lunatic
if they examined him for lunacy , they'd have him in a straitjacket in two minutes — Irwin Shaw
c. : insanity amounting to lack of capacity or of responsibility in the eyes of the law but in some states not including idiocy
2.
a. : wild foolishness : extravagant folly
the Florida boom was also the first lunacy to feel the full power of the press agent — Alva Johnston
b. : absurdity , stupidity
the lunacy of the … partisan political debate over Far Eastern policy — H.R.Isaacs
the economic lunacy of a divided national structure — Emrys Hughes
c. : gay madness : giddiness
for handsome lunacy … a cap with white ostrich spilling over the face — Lois Long
Synonyms: see insanity