panic \PAN-ik\ noun
1 *a : a sudden overpowering fright; also : acute extreme anxiety b : a sudden unreasoning terror often accompanied by mass flight c : a sudden widespread fright concerning financial affairs that results in hurried selling and a sharp fall in prices
2 slang : one that is very funny
Did you know?
"Panic" comes to us from French "panique," which in turn derives from Greek "panikos," meaning literally "of pan." Pan is the pipe-playing, nymph-chasing Greek god of fertility, pastures, flocks, and shepherds. (His name is a Doric contraction of "paon," meaning "pasturer.")
He also has a rather dark side - his shout is said to have instilled fear in the giants fightingthe gods, and the Greeks believed him responsible for causing the Persians to flee in terror at the battle of Marathon. "Panic" entered our language first as an adjective suggesting the mental or emotional state that Pan was said to induce. The adjective first appeared in print at the beginning of the 17th century, and thenoun followed about a century later.
Well, I have been experiencing panic attacks lately...it seems to be brought on by a deja-vu feeling... on top of that I had heart burn today that made me throw up! So I left work early... Lovely cold/flu! Gah! This is what a panic attack looks like!
Oh, i am so sorry to hear you had an attack! Panic attacks are the worst....i take xanax every day because of the dread things. Just try to remember to take deep breaths...and i hope you feel all better soon, lovely gypsy!
Posted by: Amanda Button | Thursday, March 01, 2007 at 12:13 PM