panic

Meanings

Adjective

• Alternate spelling of Panic

Noun

• Overwhelming fear or fright, often affecting groups of people or animals; an instance of this; a fright, a scare.
• ; any computer system crash.
• A rapid reduction in asset prices due to broad efforts to raise cash in anticipation of such prices continuing to decline.
• A highly amusing or entertaining performer, performance, or show; a riot, a scream.
• Foxtail millet or Italian millet (Setaria italica), the second-most widely grown species of millet.
• A plant of the genus Panicum, or of similar plants of other genera (especially Echinochloa and Setaria) formerly included within Panicum; panicgrass or panic grass.
• The edible grain obtained from one of the above plants.

Origin

• . Panique is derived from Ancient Greek πανικός and its neuter singular πανικόν; and πανικός from Πάν (the god of fields and woods who was believed to be the source of mysterious sounds that caused contagious, groundless fear in herds and crowds, or in people in lonely spots; perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂-) + -ῐκός. Adjective sense 3 (“pertaining to or resulting from overpowering fear or fright”) is partly an attributive use of the noun.
• The noun is derived from the adjective, while the verb is derived from the noun. Verb sense 1.3 (“to highly amuse, entertain, or impress (an audience watching a performance or show”) is derived from noun sense 4 (“a highly amusing or entertaining performer, performance, or show”).