English
lunatic
Lunatic comes from Late Latin lunaticus ‘moonstruck’, from Latin luna ‘moon’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘bright’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewk-‘bright’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*lówksneh₂‘moon’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*louksnā‘moon’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEluna‘moon’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CElunaticus‘moonstruck’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400lunatique
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lunatik‘suffering from madness due to varying lunar phases’
- Englishearliest quotation 1902lunatic
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewk-‘bright’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*lówksneh₂‘moon’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*louksnā‘moon’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEluna‘moon’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CElunaticus‘moonstruck’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400lunatique
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500lunatik‘suffering from madness due to varying lunar phases’
- Englishearliest quotation 1902lunatic
Earliest quotation: 1902, Hilaire Belloc: “While there are other races (or individuals—heaven forgive me,…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ‘bright’
light, low, link, los, lucy, lea, ounce, lynx, translucent, luminous, lux, lucid, lumen, illuminate, illumination, luminosity, luce, lumia, loach, leucine, lum, luminescent, luminary, luminal, 75 more
through Latin luna ‘moon’
Today it means
noun An insane person.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *lewk- / lunatic