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Today's Word "Amuck"

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Published in Vocabulary

amuck \eh-MEHK\ (adjective) - In a highly frenzied, violent state, hence (by amelioration or semantic weakening) out of control.

"To Vladimir, 2000's election quagmire in Florida reflected the democratic process gone amuck."

 

This is a folk etymology of the original Malay word amok "a violent frenzy." Folk etymology is the reconstruction of a borrowed word so that it resembles more a native word. In this case, the familiar word "muck" replaced "mok" resulting in a more "English" term "amuck," similar to adverb-adjectives like "aboard," "aglow," "adrift."


 

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