Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Of, suffering from, or characteristic of delirium.
  • adjective Marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion; ecstatic.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Wandering in mind; having ideas and fancies that are wild, fantastic, or incoherent; light-headed; flighty; raving.
  • Characterized by or proceeding from wild excitement, exaggerated emotion, or rapture: as, delirious joy.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Having a delirium; wandering in mind; light-headed; insane; raving; wild

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective medicine Being in the state of delirium.
  • adjective Having uncontrolled excitement; ecstatic.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion
  • adjective experiencing delirium

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From delirium +‎ -ous; see also Latin delirus ("silly, doting, crazy")

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Examples

  • "I am delirious from a hard day's travel, and the thought that I, a Cimmerian born born in battle under the indifferent eyes of Crom, who mocks the Northern tribes as they wage war among themselves, I, who am a creature of rolling hills and mountains, could be your neighbor, here, in this swamp --" Conan paused and took in the withered creature before him, and for a moment his face was solemn.

    Archive 2009-12-01 Reis O'Brien 2009

  • "I am delirious from a hard day's travel, and the thought that I, a Cimmerian born born in battle under the indifferent eyes of Crom, who mocks the Northern tribes as they wage war among themselves, I, who am a creature of rolling hills and mountains, could be your neighbor, here, in this swamp --" Conan paused and took in the withered creature before him, and for a moment his face was solemn.

    Conan Fan Fiction! Cromsblood 2009

  • I want this town to melt in delirious euphoria over a World Championship, and celebrate it every day for a year -- New Orleans style.

    Archive 2007-10-01 2007

  • His biggest worry was Specialist Moreland, who was delirious from a dangerous head wound.

    Moreland, James L. 1968

  • Before long a carnival of color began which I can only describe as delirious, intoxicating, a hardly bearable joy, a tender anguish, an indescribable yearning, an unearthly music, rich in love and worship.

    A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains 2007

  • Their responses to the examiner or staff are perfunctory and vague, and they may appear to be in an excited delirium, which Kraepelin termed delirious mania.

    The Neuropsychiatric Guide to Modern Everyday Psychiatry Michael Alan Taylor 1993

  • After a while we shall have a letter, which once upon a time we'd have called delirious -- don't know that we could read such a thing now, for the first time, without incredulous laughter -- which Mr. Proctor permitted to be published in

    The Book of the Damned Charles Fort

  • Before long a carnival of color began which I can only describe as delirious, intoxicating, a hardly bearable joy, a tender anguish, an indescribable yearning, an unearthly music, rich in love and worship.

    A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains 1867

  • And when I say "delirious," I sometimes mean it literally.

    Rose red city, half as old as time shunn 2008

  • And when I say "delirious," I sometimes mean it literally.

    Rose red city, half as old as time shunn 2008

Comments

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  • Up, up the long delirious burning blue

    I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,

    Where never lark, or even eagle, flew;

    And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

    The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

    Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

    - John Gillespie Magee Jr., 'Hight Flight'.

    November 12, 2008