I. ˈlünəˌtik adjective
also lu·nat·i·cal (ˈ)lü|nad.ə̇kəl
Etymology: lunatic from Middle English lunatik, from Old French or Late Latin; Old French lunatique, from Late Latin lunaticus, from Latin luna moon; lunatical from lunatic + -al — more at lunar
1.
a. obsolete : affected with lunacy
b. : having or controlled by an unsound mind : mad
c. : designed for the treatment or care of insane persons
lunatic asylum
2.
a. : wildly foolish : given to or marked by extravagant folly
pure fantasy unrelated to reality is dangerous, lunatic , and irresponsible — Rex Warner
consuming with lunatic speed the assets of the earth — Herbert Agar
b. : gaily mad : giddy
performed … with wonderful precision and lunatic brightness — New Yorker
the light lunatic touch which she uses to satirize fur fashion shows and torch singers — Virginia Forbes
3. of a horse : moon-blind
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English lunatik, from lunatik, adjective
1.
a. : a person affected with lunacy or of unsound mind
b. : one who is wildly eccentric : one capable of crazy actions or extravagances : crackpot
all sorts of political lunatics whom no one would dream of taking seriously — G.B.Shaw
he is a lunatic when it comes to fishing
2. : a person whose abnormal mental condition renders him incapable or irresponsible before the law (as an insane person or one non compos mentis)