| 释义 |
insanity|ɪnˈsænɪtɪ|
[ad. L. insānitātem unhealthiness, unsoundness, disease, n. of quality f. insānus insane: see -ity. Cf. mod.F. insanité (1863 in Littré).]
1. The condition of being insane; unsoundness of mind as a consequence of brain-disease; madness, lunacy. Orig., called insanity of mind.
‘A condition of the mind in which a false action of conception or judgment, a defective power of the will, or an uncontrollable violence of the emotions and instincts, have separately or conjointly been produced by disease’ (Dr. J. C. Bucknill, Crim. Lunacy (1854) 28).
1590Swinburne Testaments 36 b, Madfolkes and Lunaticke persons, during the time of their furor or insanitie of minde, cannot make a testament. a1677Hale Hist. Placit. Cor. (R.), There is a partial insanity of mind and a total insanity. This partial insanity seems not to excuse them in the committing of any offence for its matter capital. 1772Junius Lett. lxviii. 355 Did they attempt to produce any evidence of his insanity? 1782T. Arnold (title) Observations on the Nature, Kinds, Causes, and Prevention of Insanity. 1827Scott Highl. Widow v, The murder of an officer may be..coloured over with [the plea] of temporary insanity. 1859Engineer VII. 282/2 Two cases of suicide..In each case the coroner's jury brought in a verdict of temporary insanity. 1865Pall Mall G. 3 Aug. 4/1 The definition of insanity..as an inability to reason upon the evidence of the senses. 1897Dict. Nat. Biog. LII. 320/2 D. Skae's..definition of insanity as ‘a disease of the brain affecting the mind’ is not disputable.
transf.1784Cowper Task vi. 523 The frenzy of the brain may be redress'd By med'cine well applied, but without grace The heart's insanity admits no cure.
2. Extreme folly or want of sound sense; an instance of this.
1844Emerson Lect., Yng. Amer. Wks. (Bohn) II. 306 After all the deduction is made for our frivolities and insanities. 1844Stanley Arnold (1858) II. ix. 162 To lose which..would be rather our insanity than our misfortune. 1862H. Spencer First Princ. ii. iii. §46 (1875) 159 Did we..use the term effect..we should be in little danger of falling into the insanities of idealism.
3. attrib. and Comb.
1892Pall Mall G. 28 May 7/2 One cannot conclude that their insanity rate is remarkably high. 1894Daily News 26 July 9/2 Dr. B―, insanity expert, who had examined the prisoner at the request of the Treasury, said prisoner was now perfectly sane. 1896Westm. Gaz. 6 Nov. 6/3 Eminent nerve and insanity specialists gave evidence. |