panic: [17] Panic is etymologically ‘terror caused by the god Pan’. The ancient Greeks believed that he lurked in lonely spots, and would frighten people by suddenly appearing, or making noises. He was evidently invoked to account for alarming but harmless natural phenomena, and so the element of ‘irrationality’ in the English word was present from the beginning. English acquired it (originally as an adjective) via French panique and modern Latin pānicus from Greek pānikós ‘of Pan’. => pan
panic (v.)
1827, "to afflict with panic," from panic (n.). Intransitive sense of "to lose one's head, get into a panic" is from 1902. Related: Panicked; panicking.
panic (n.1)
"mass terror," 1708, from earlier adjective (c. 1600, modifying fear, terror, etc.), from French panique (15c.), from Greek panikon, literally "pertaining to Pan," the god of woods and fields, who was the source of mysterious sounds that caused contagious, groundless fear in herds and crowds, or in people in lonely spots.
In the sense of "panic, fright" the Greek word is short for panikon deima "panic fright," from neuter of Panikos "of Pan." Meaning "widespread apprehension about financial matters" is first recorded 1757. Panic button in figurative sense is first recorded 1955, the literal sense apparently is from parachuting. Panic attack attested by 1970.
panic (n.2)
type of grass, early 15c., from Old French panic "Italian millet," from Latin panicum "panic grass, kind of millet," from panus "ear of millet, a swelling" (compare panocha).
双语例句
1. You feel an animal panic to run and hide.
你会感到一种本能的恐惧而想要去逃避。
来自柯林斯例句
2. A wall collapsed and 39 people, were killed in the panic-stricken stampede.
一堵墙倒了，慌乱中有39人死于踩踏事故。
来自柯林斯例句
3. An earthquake hit the capital, causing panic among the population.
首都发生了地震，引发民众恐慌。
来自柯林斯例句
4. On the flight from Paris to Toulon, Mechiche fell prey to panic.
在从巴黎飞往土伦的航班上，梅希什惊慌失措。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Cecil now began to panic and fired off two distress rockets.
