Delirious is a word that is spelled with the combination of six letters. The word is pronounced [dɪˈlɪriəs]. The first syllable of the word is pronounced with a short "i" sound [ɪ], followed by the unstressed second syllable [lɪ]. The third syllable is pronounced with a long "e" sound [i], and the final syllable is pronounced with the "-ous" suffix, which is pronounced [əs]. Overall, the spelling of delirious follows the English phonetic principles and is relatively easy to read and sound out.
The term "delirious" refers to a state of extreme mental disturbance and confusion, often characterized by irrationality, disorientation, and hallucinations. It is a condition that typically arises as a result of underlying physical or psychological causes, such as fever, drug intoxication, or severe illness.
When an individual is delirious, they exhibit an altered state of consciousness and may experience rapid fluctuations in their thoughts, perceptions, and emotions. Their thinking becomes fragmented and disjointed, making it difficult for them to maintain logical reasoning or communicate coherently. Furthermore, their orientation to time, place, and person may become severely impaired, causing them to lose awareness of their surroundings and personal identity.
One of the key features of delirium is the presence of hallucinations or delusions, wherein the affected person may see or hear things that are not actually present, or hold irrational beliefs that go against reality. These perceptual disturbances can greatly contribute to the individual's overall confusion and distress.
Delirium is a temporary condition that typically diminishes once the underlying cause is addressed or treated. However, if left unresolved, it can result in serious complications and pose a threat to the individual's physical and mental well-being.
In summary, "delirious" refers to an acute mental state characterized by severe confusion, disorientation, irrationality, and hallucinations, typically originating from an underlying physical or psychological condition.
In a state of delirium.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Disordered in mind; raving.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "delirious" originated from the Latin word "deliriare", which means "to be crazy or deranged". It is derived from the combination of "de" meaning "away" and "lira" meaning "a furrow or track". This term metaphorically suggests "to go off the track" or "to wander". Over time, the word was adopted into Middle English and evolved into "delirious" with its current meaning of being in a state of severe mental disturbance or confusion.