From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Fanatic \Fa*nat"ic\, a. [L. fanaticus inspired by divinity,
enthusiastic, frantic, fr. fanum fane: cf. F. fanatique. See
{Fane}.]
Pertaining to, or indicating, fanaticism; extravagant in
opinions; ultra; unreasonable; excessively enthusiastic,
especially on religious subjects; as, fanatic zeal; fanatic
notions.
[1913 Webster]
But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast
To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last. --T.
Moore.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Fanatic \Fa*nat"ic\, n.
A person affected by excessive enthusiasm, particularly on
religious subjects; one who indulges wild and extravagant
notions of religion.
[1913 Webster]
There is a new word, coined within few months, called
fanatics, which, by the close stickling thereof,
seemeth well cut out and proportioned to signify what
is meant thereby, even the sectaries of our age.
--Fuller
(1660).
[1913 Webster]
Fanatics are governed rather by imagination than by
judgment. --Stowe.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fanatic
adj 1: marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion
to a cause or idea; "rabid isolationist" [syn: {fanatic},
{fanatical}, {overzealous}, {rabid}]
n 1: a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm (as for a
cause); "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and
won't change the subject"--Winston Churchill [syn:
{fanatic}, {fiend}]
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