I. ˈpanik, -nēk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English panik, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French panic Italian millet, from Latin panicum, from panus ear of millet, tuft, swelling, inflammation; akin to Latin pantic-, pantex paunch — more at paunch
1. : panic grass
2. : the edible grain of some panic grasses
II. adjective
Etymology: French panique, from Greek panikos, from Pan, ancient Greek god of woods and shepherds who was regarded as the cause of the panic among the Persians at Marathon and of any sudden and groundless fear + -ikos -ic
1. : of, relating to, or resembling the mental or emotional state believed to be induced by the ancient Greek god Pan : wild : extreme, sudden, and often groundless — used especially of fear
driven by a panic fear that they would be massacred — Alan Moorehead
no rational fear but a panic terror — H.G.Wells
2. : of, relating to, or coming from a panic
a wave of panic buying — Mary K. Hammond
panic haste
panic conditions
3. : of or relating to the god Pan
what old, earthy Panic rite came to extinction here — Aldous Huxley
4. : being or belonging to hardware securing an exit door that opens readily outward when a bar or lever on the inside of the door is pushed
panic bolts for theater exits
panic bars for school doors
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Greek panikon, from neuter of panikos
1. obsolete : contagious emotion such as was supposed to be due to the ancient Greek god Pan
2. : a sudden overpowering fright ; especially : a sudden terror often inspired by a trifling cause or a misapprehension of danger and accompanied by unreasoning or frantic efforts to secure safety
3. : a sudden widespread fright concerning financial affairs and resulting in a depression in values caused by violent measures for protection or for the sale of securities or other property — compare business cycle
4. slang : something very funny
Synonyms: see fear
IV. verb
( panicked ; panicked ; panicking ; panics )
transitive verb
1. : to affect with panic
a brutal murder … panics the town — Publishers' Weekly
: influence by arousing panic
salesmen are attempting to panic people into buying … by threatening a shortage — Springfield (Massachusetts) Daily News
2. : to produce demonstrative appreciation on the part of
panic an audience with a gag
intransitive verb
: to be stricken with panic : lose one's head
panics and attempts to flee from the fallout area — R.E.Lapp