† ˈdemency Obs.
Also -cie, -sy.
[ad. L. dēmentia madness, f. dēmens, -ment-em out of one's mind, f. de- I. 6 + mens mind. Cf. F. démence (15th c. in Hatzf.).]
1. Madness; infatuation.
| 1522 Skelton Why not to Court 679 The kynge his clemency Despenseth with his demensy. 1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 71 That were a poynt of demency or madnes. 1627 W. Sclater Exp. 2 Thess. (1629) 225 Saint Paul..imputes to them no lesse than franticke demency. |
2. Med. = dementia. [tr. F. démence (Pinel).]
| 1858 Copland Dict. Med. II. 441 M. Pinel arranged mental diseases into 1st Mania..2{supd} Melancholia..3{supd} Demency, or a particular debility of the operations of the understanding, and of the acts of the will. |