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panic

pan·ic

panic

 
 
pronunciation:
pae nihk
parts of speech:
noun, verb
features:
Word History, Word Explorer
part of speech: noun
definition: a sudden terror that often causes wild behavior and spreads to many other individuals.
The fire caused a panic in the building.
similar words:
alarm, fear, scare, terror
 
part of speech: verb
inflections: panics, panicking, panicked
definition: to feel or be overcome by panic.
She panics whenever she has to give a speech.
 
derivation: panicky (adj.)
Word History
Our word panic comes from Pan, the name of the Greek god of woods and shepherds. Pan was believed to be the cause of sudden, wild fear that could not otherwise be explained.
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See
  fear