Quick Definition
μαίνομαι v. I am raving mad
Strong's Definition
middle voice from a primary mao (to long for; through the idea of insensate craving); to rave as a "maniac"
KJV Usage: be beside self (mad)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | ἐμμαίνομαι · μανία
1 It is possible that there are some significant differences in meaning between the set μαίνομαι / μανία and the set παραφρονέω / παραφρονία, but the difference is likely to be more connotative than denotative, as, for example, the distinction in English between crazy and insane.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
μαίνομαι; [fr. Hom. down]; to be mad, to rave: said of one who so speaks that he seems not to be in his right mind, Acts xii. 15; xxvi. 24; 1 Co. xiv. 23; opp. to σωφροσύνης ῥήματα ἀποφθέγγεσθαι, Acts xxvi. 25; joined with δαιμόνιον ἔχειν, Jn. x. 20. [Comp.: éu-paivopa. |
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
μαίνομαι mainomai 5x
to be disordered in mind, mad, Jn. 10:20; Acts 12:15; 26:24, 25; 1 Cor. 14:23*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
μαίνομαι,
[in LXX: Je 32 (25):16 (הלל hith.) Je 36 (29):26 (שׁגע pu.), Wi 14:28, al.;]
to rage, be furious.
to rave, be mad: Jo 10:29, Ac 12:15 26:24, 25, I Co 14:23 (cf. ἐμ-μαίνομαι).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
μαίνομαι. The proceedings before Festus (Ac 2654) find a striking parallel in the curious interview with an Emperor (Marcus Aurelius or Commodus) recorded in P Oxy I. 33, where the Emperor rebukes the violent language of the condemned Appianus in the words — 1.9% i(= εἰώθαμεν καὶ ἡμεῖς μαινομένους kal ἀπονενοημένους σωφριί-- o)vitev, “* we are accustomed to bring to their senses those who are mad or beside themselves ” (Edd.), and receives the answer—! 1 νὴ τὴν σὴν τύχην οὔτε μαίνομαι οὔτε ἀπονενόημαι. The verb is also found in CP Herm I. γ᾽: 18. (ii/a.p.?) οὐ γὰρ ἐμηνάμ]ην, and in Or, Szd. i. 171 f. ot δέ μιν εἰσαΐοντες ἐμυκτήριζον ἕκαστος, | ἔκφρονα κικλήσκοντες, ἀτὰρ μεμανημένον ἄνδρα.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
μαίνομαι (mainomai) — to rave. μαίνομαι, future μᾰνοῦμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect with present sense μέμηνα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Doric dialect μέμηνα uncertain in [Refs 7th c.BC+]; also in passive form μεμάνημαι [ᾰ] [Refs 3rd c.BC+]aorist passive ἐμάνην, participle μᾰνείς, infinitive μᾰνῆναι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: also aorist middle ἐμηνάμην [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; poetry 2nd pers. singular ἐμήναο probably in [Refs 2nd c.BC+], 3rd.pers. singular μήνατο [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; participle μηνάμενος [Refs 8th c.BC+] uses only present and imperfect:—rage, be furious, in [Refs 8th c.BC+] frequently of martial rage, μαίνεσθαι ἐάσομεν οὖλον Ἄρηα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μαίνεται ἐγχείη ἀπὸ λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι[Refs]; rage with anger, πατὴρ.. φρεσὶ μαίνεται οὐκ ἀγαθῇσι [Refs]; ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μ. ἦτορ[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ μανείς the madman, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; to be mad with wine, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of Bacchic frenzy, μαινόμενος Διώνυσος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ μ. to be inspired by.., driven mad by.., [Refs 5th c.BC+], compare μάντι; τὸ μαίνεσθαι madness, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πλεῖν ἢ μαίνομαι I am beside myself with joy, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of madness in animals, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; later simply, ={ὀργίζομαι}, μαινόμενος ὅτι.. [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: frequently with words of manner, ὁ δὲ μαίνεται οὐκέτ᾽ ἀνεκτῶς [Refs 8th c.BC+]; πόνοις at or because of.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπί τινι (i.e. φιλοτιμίᾳ) [Refs], of love, [Refs 7th c.BC+]
2. of things, rage, riot, especially of fire, ὡς ὅτ᾽.. ὀλοὸν πῦρ οὔρεσι μαίνηται [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μαινόμενος οἶνος a hot, strong wine, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of feelings, ἐλπὶς μαινομένη Oracle texts cited in [Refs 5th c.BC+]
3. ἄμπελος μαινομένη, of a vine that is never done bearing fruit, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
4. μαινόμενα ἕλκη malignant ulcers, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
II. aorist 1 active ἔμηνα, in causal sense, madden, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; enrage, [Refs 5th c.BC+]present μαίνω first in [Refs 5th c.AD+]