† parafrenesie, -frensie Obs. rare.
[= OF. parafrenasie, ad. med.L. parafrenēsis, f. Gr. παρα-, para-1, in sense ‘false, spurious’ + L. phrenēsis (in Celsus as a Gr. word ϕρένησις) madness, delirium, frenzy.]
Temporary delirium, due (as was thought) not to disorder of the brain itself, but to its being affected by the fevered state of some other part.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. vii. v. (Bodl. MS.), It comeþ of fumosite and smoke þat comeþ vpward to þe brayne & disturbleþ þe brayne and hatte parafrenesie, nought vrei frenesy [Barthol. parafrenesis, i. frenesis non vera; OFr. version (Godef.) parafrenasie, qui n'est pas vraye frenasye]. Ibid., Þanne þe brayne turneþ aȝen into his owne good state and þanne þis yuel parafrenesie is deliuered. |