HYSTERIA, HYSTERICAL, HYSTERICALLY, HYSTERICS
ADJECTIVES
► FITIFIED eccentric, peculiar; hysterical, nervous; erratic, fastidious → 1912 Amer. dial.
► IN ONE’S AIRS emotional, hysterical → M18 sl.
► STERICKY hysterical → 1868 Eng. dial.
► STIR-CRAZY insane, deranged, hysterical, or otherwise affected by imprisonment → 1908 US sl.
ADVERBS
► LIKE NUTS hysterically → 1952 sl.
NOUNS
► CATFIT ► CATNIP-FIT a sudden outburst of intense anger, excitement, or hysteria; a temper tantrum or a fit of rage → 1905 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► CONNIPTION a violent tantrum; hysterics → 1848 Amer. sl.
► CONNIPTION FIT a violent tantrum; hysterics → 1833 Amer. sl.
► HIGH STRIKES, THE hysterics; a display of over whelming, uncontrollable emotion or agitation, esp. as a result of acute distress → 1809 colloq. & humorous usage
►OYSTERICS hysterics → 1904 middle class sl.
VERBS
► ACT AS IF ONE’S KNICKERS WERE ON FIRE to panic, to behave hysterically → 1960s sl.
► CHUCK A SEVEN to lose emotional control, to become hysterical → 1899 sl.
► CHUCK A SIXER to become hysterical, to lose one’s temper → 1951 Aust. sl.
► HYSTERICIZE to become hysterical → 1819
Lexicophilia 