▪ I. hyper1
(ˈhaɪpə(r))
humorous or colloquial abbreviation (a) of hypercritic, (b) of hyper-Calvinist.
| 1689 Prior Ep. to F. Shephard 168 Criticks I read on other Men, And Hypers upon them again. 1856 Spurgeon New Park St. Pulpit No. 102 We are called Antinomians; we are cried down as hypers. 1863 Cater Punch in Pulpit xi. (ed. 3) 110, I call you, then, Mr. Hyper, not for the sake of giving you a nickname, but for the sake of distinguishing you from other religionists to whom you do not belong..It is the well-known designation of those who go beyond Calvin. |
▪ II. hyper2 U.S. slang.
(ˈhaɪpə(r))
[Cf. hype v.1]
(See quot. 1914.)
| 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal Slang 47 Hyper, current amongst money-changers. A flim-flammer. 1931 G. Irwin Amer. Tramp & Underworld Slang 106 Hyper, a ‘short change’ artist... The logical explanation..is that the word came from ‘hyp’, a contraction of hypochondria. |
▪ III. hyper, a. slang (orig. and chiefly U.S.).
(ˈhaɪpə(r))
[Shortening of hyperactive s.v. hyper- 4.]
Hyperactive, excitable, highly-strung; extraordinarily energetic.
| 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §274/6 Overzealous; fanatic. Bats, bugs, hipped, hippish, hyper, nuts. 1971 Time 8 Mar. 18/2 ‘I was definitely hyper,’ said Calley. 1977 C. McFadden Serial (1978) iv. 14/2 He couldn't stop..rapping at her in this very hyper way. 1985 Dirt Bike Mar. 14/1 Andre Malherbe never hopped from sponsor to sponsor like a hyper bumblebee in search of a bit more honey. 1986 Washington Post 10 July b5/1 Lately he has become so nervous and hyper when he is disciplined that he beats himself on the head or throws himself on the ground to punish himself. |