Today's Word "Amuck"
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."








Comments