Pronunciation: [mˈe͡ɪnɪˌak] (IPA) 
The word "maniac" is spelled using the following IPA transcription: /ˈmeɪniæk/. The first syllable, "man," is pronounced with a long "a" sound, as in "main." The second syllable, "i," is pronounced with a short "i" sound, as in "ick." The final syllable, "ac," is pronounced with a hard "k" sound. The word refers to a person who is wildly enthusiastic or obsessed with something, often to a dangerous extent.
Maniac is a noun that refers to an individual who is excessively obsessed with or exhibits extreme enthusiasm or devotion towards a particular activity, interest, or pursuit. The term is often associated with someone who displays bizarre, erratic, and uncontrollable behavior, often to the point of being mentally unstable or dangerous. A maniac can be characterized by their manic and frenzied attitudes, actions, or temperament, which may stem from a psychological disorder or a state of extreme excitement.
The word "maniac" is commonly used to describe someone who acts irrationally, erratically, or violently, displaying a lack of self-control or exhibiting intense emotions. This may manifest in various areas of life such as work, hobbies, or relationships, where a person's excessive and relentless focus on their interest can lead to disregard for other aspects of life. The term can also be applied to describe a person who is engrossed in illegal or destructive activities.
However, it is important to note that the term "maniac" is often used in a colloquial or informal manner, with a slightly derogatory connotation. It should be used cautiously, as it can perpetuate stigmatization surrounding mental health issues and may not accurately depict an individual's true nature or potential mental state.
A violently insane person, one suffering from mania.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
A madman; one raving with madness.
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 "maniac" originated from the Greek word "mania", meaning madness or frenzy. In Greek mythology, Mania was also the goddess of insanity and madness. Over time, the Greek term "mania" was borrowed into Latin as "manicus", and eventually evolved into Old French as "manie". From Old French, it entered the English language in the 16th century as "maniac", referring to an insane or mentally deranged person.
