rabid
UK[ˈræb.ɪd]US[ˈræb.ɪd]
adj
(Of an animal, especially a dog) affected with rabies; mad.
adj
Having or proceeding from an extreme or fanatical support of or belief in something.
Etymology
The word 'rabid' entered English in the early 17th century, directly from the Latin 'rabidus', meaning 'mad, raging, furious'. This Latin adjective itself derives from the verb 'rabere', meaning 'to rave, be mad, be furious'. The core semantic link from the ancient root to the modern meaning is the concept of uncontrolled fury. This first applied literally to the madness caused by the disease rabies, characterized by violent behavior. The sense of 'fanatical' or 'extremely zealous' is a figurative extension from this core idea of uncontrollable intensity, describing a person's fervor as being akin to a kind of madness.
Analysis
The word 'rabid' is a simplex loanword from Latin. It does not contain separable morphemes in its modern English spelling.
Examples
The fox was captured after it exhibited rabid behavior.
She is a rabid supporter of the local football team.
Public health officials warned about the danger of rabid bats in the area.