All February 2009
word · Rods Bobavich
apoplectic
[ap·o·plēk·tik]
—
adj.
Overwhelmed particularly by anger or excitement to the point of being unable to move or speak. Specifically, infused with blood. Relating to apoplexy, a medical condition of internal bleeding that is often fatal.
From Latin apoplēcticus (possibly via French apoplectique) from Ancient Greek ἀποπληκτικός (apoplēktikos) < ἀπόπληκτος (apoplēktos) < ἀποπλήσσω (apoplēssō) < ἀπό (apo) "of, from" + πλήσσω (plēssō) "I strike". Apoplexy is the classic medical term for a stroke. Today apoplectic is used more colloquially to refer not only to infusion of blood but speachless shock in both the good and bad sense.