-mad-

n. [ AS. ma&unr_;a; akin to D. & G. made, Goth. mapa, and prob. to E. moth. ] (Zool.) An earthworm. [ Written also made. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

obs. p. p. of Made. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be mad; to go mad; to rave. See Madding. [ Archaic ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Festus said with great voice, Paul thou maddest. Wyclif (Acts). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Madder superl. Maddest ] [ AS. gem&unr_;d, gemād, mad; akin to OS. gem&unr_;d foolish, OHG. gameit, Icel. mei&unr_;a to hurt, Goth. gamáids weak, broken. &unr_;. ] 1. Disordered in intellect; crazy; insane. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have heard my grandsire say full oft,
Extremity of griefs would make men mad. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Excited beyond self-control or the restraint of reason; inflamed by violent or uncontrollable desire, passion, or appetite; as, to be mad with terror, lust, or hatred; mad against political reform. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols. Jer. 1. 88. [ 1913 Webster ]

And being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. Acts xxvi. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Proceeding from, or indicating, madness; expressing distraction; prompted by infatuation, fury, or extreme rashness. “Mad demeanor.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mad wars destroy in one year the works of many years of peace. Franklin. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mad promise of Cleon was fulfilled. Jowett (Thucyd.). [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Extravagant; immoderate. “Be mad and merry.” Shak. “Fetching mad bounds.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Furious with rage, terror, or disease; -- said of the lower animals; as, a mad bull; esp., having hydrophobia; rabid; as, a mad dog. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Angry; out of patience; vexed; as, to get mad at a person. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Having impaired polarity; -- applied to a compass needle. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Like mad, like a mad person; in a furious manner; as, to run like mad. L'Estrange. --
To run mad. (a) To become wild with excitement. (b) To run wildly about under the influence of hydrophobia; to become affected with hydrophobia. --
To run mad after, to pursue under the influence of infatuation or immoderate desire. “The world is running mad after farce.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. a. 1. Of or pertaining to Madagascar; as, Madagascan pepper. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of Madagascar; as, Madagascan soldiers.
Syn. -- Malagasy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. A native or inhabitant of Madagascar. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

pos>prop. n. An island in the Indian Ocean, about 240 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, governed as a single country, the Republic of Madagascar. It is the world's fourth-largest island, with a total area of 587, 040 sq km, with 4, 828 km of coastline. Once a French colony, it gained independence from France in 1960. The name of the government after independence was the Malagasy Republic. [ PJC ]

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997 in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The Population: is 15, 982, 563 (July 2001 est.) The highest point is Maromokotro, at 2, 876 m. Natural resources are: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, and hydropower. CIA World Factbook [ PJC ]

n. (Zool.) A small lemur having its tail barred with black.
Syn. -- ring-tailed lemur, Lemur catta. [ WordNet 1.5 ]