distractedadj.
/dɪˈstraktɪd/ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > [adjective] > separate or separated > torn apart
distraught1596
distracted1598
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Distratto, withdrawne, distracted, led away.
1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. i. 2 Europe is of a more distracted and manifolde shape.
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) v. iii. 36 To the brightest beames Distracted clouds giue way. View more context for this quotation
1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes iii. §95. 365 Henry 7..married Elizabeth the heire of the house of Yorke, and therby united those two distracted houses.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State v. xv. 418 By putting together distracted syllables, and by piecing of broken sentences.
2. Driven hither and thither; agitated, disturbed, ‘troubled’. Obsolete except as figurative from senses 3 – 5.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > [adjective] > agitated
unquieta1398
vexed?1440
stirred1483
wrought1511
totteringa1535
turmoilous1553
turbulent1573
disturbed1593
trepidat1605
agitated1614
distracted1632
commoving1647
tumultuous1667
jumbling1687
unpacifica1750
uneasy1816
commoved1847
turmoily1877
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 505 There is a certaine place of sea, where these destracted tydes make their rancountering Randevouze.
1726 Philos. Trans. 1725 (Royal Soc.) 33 427 Hard Gales of southerly Winds, attended with violent Squalls of Rain, and a distracted Sea.
a1845 T. Hood Forge i. vi Badly, madly, the vapours fly Over the dark distracted sky.
3. Mentally drawn to different objects; perplexed or confused by conflicting interests; torn or disordered by dissension or the like.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > mental wandering > lack of concentration, distraction > [adjective] > distracted
distract1435
bestraughta1547
amused1579
bestract1581
distracteda1634
bestraughteda1650
distrait1748
dissipated1749
a1634 W. Austin Devotionis Augustinianæ Flamma (1635) 87 Having (according to my weake facultie, and distracted Studies) set downe what I thought most..observable.
1779 F. Hervey et al. Naval Hist. Great Brit. II. 140 To settle the distracted affairs of that kingdom, Cromwell was appointed lord-lieutenant.
1821 C. Lamb in London Mag. Nov. 470/1 Savoury soup and messes..moistening the lips of the guests with desire and a distracted choice.
4. Much confused or troubled in mind; having, or showing, great mental disturbance or perplexity.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > [adjective]
yblenta1225
amazed?c1225
wory?c1225
mingedc1275
willc1300
distracta1340
confounded1362
confuse1362
distraitc1374
whapedc1374
wilsomea1375
poseletc1390
distraught1393
perplexa1425
wildc1440
wiltc1440
dodemusydc1450
mistedc1450
unclearc1475
mazed1493
perplexeda1500
traversablea1500
mazyc1525
entangled1561
muddy?1571
distraughted1572
moidered1587
wondering1592
puzzled1598
plundered1601
distracted1604
uncollected1613
wildered1642
turbid1647
tosticated1650
fuddled1656
pixie-led1659
puzzling1692
bumbazed1720
maffled1820
obfuscated1822
confused1825
muddly1829
mystified1833
maze1842
obfusticatedc1844
head-scratching1849
clueless1862
flustery1862
befogged1868
deurmekaar1871
mosy1887
skewgee1890
buggered-up1893
confusticated1898
smock-ravelled1904
messed-up1913
screwed-up1943
hung up1945
lost1967
gravelled-
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. v. 97 Remember thee, I..whiles memory holds a seate In this distracted globe. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) iii. v. 10 You onely speake from your distracted soule. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Dryden Indian Emperour ii. ii. 19 Where shall a Maids distracted heart find rest..!
1822 New Edinb. Rev. No. 3. 109 He bent over her, chiefly to hide her distracted countenance.
1857 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. I. vi. 304 The minds of men were too distracted for so deliberate a plan.
5. Deranged in mind; out of one's wits; crazed, mad, insane. Now rare in literal sense, except in such expressions as ‘like one distracted’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > [adjective] > insanity or madness > affected with
woodc725
woodsekc890
giddyc1000
out of (by, from, of) wit or one's witc1000
witlessc1000
brainsickOE
amadc1225
lunaticc1290
madc1330
sickc1340
brain-wooda1375
out of one's minda1387
frenetica1398
fonda1400
formada1400
unwisea1400
brainc1400
unwholec1400
alienate?a1425
brainless1434
distract of one's wits1470
madfula1475
furious1475
distract1481
fro oneself1483
beside oneself1490
beside one's patience1490
dementa1500
red-wood?1507
extraught1509
misminded1509
peevish1523
bedlam-ripe1525
straughta1529
fanatic1533
bedlama1535
daft1540
unsounda1547
stark raving (also staring) mad1548
distraughted1572
insane1575
acrazeda1577
past oneself1576
frenzy1577
poll-mad1577
out of one's senses1580
maddeda1586
frenetical1588
distempered1593
distraught1597
crazed1599
diswitted1599
idle-headed1599
lymphatical1603
extract1608
madling1608
distracteda1616
informala1616
far gone1616
crazy1617
March mada1625
non compos mentis1628
brain-crazed1632
demented1632
crack-brained1634
arreptitiousa1641
dementate1640
dementated1650
brain-crackeda1652
insaniated1652
exsensed1654
bedlam-witteda1657
lymphatic1656
mad-like1679
dementative1685
non compos1699
beside one's gravity1716
hyte1720
lymphated1727
out of one's head1733
maddened1735
swivel-eyed1758
wrong1765
brainsickly1770
fatuous1773
derangedc1790
alienated1793
shake-brained1793
crack-headed1796
flighty1802
wowf1802
doitrified1808
phrenesiac1814
bedlamite1815
mad-braineda1822
fey1823
bedlamitish1824
skire1825
beside one's wits1827
as mad as a hatter1829
crazied1842
off one's head1842
bemadded1850
loco1852
off one's nut1858
off his chump1864
unsane1867
meshuga1868
non-sane1868
loony1872
bee-headed1879
off one's onion1881
off one's base1882
(to go) off one's dot1883
locoed1885
screwy1887
off one's rocker1890
balmy or barmy on (or in) the crumpet1891
meshuggener1892
nutty1892
buggy1893
bughouse1894
off one's pannikin1894
ratty1895
off one's trolley1896
batchy1898
twisted1900
batsc1901
batty1903
dippy1903
bugs1904
dingy1904
up the (also a) pole1904
nut1906
nuts1908
nutty as a fruitcake1911
bugged1920
potty1920
cuckoo1923
nutsy1923
puggled1923
blah1924
détraqué1925
doolally1925
off one's rocket1925
puggle1925
mental1927
phooey1927
crackers1928
squirrelly1928
over the edge1929
round the bend1929
lakes1934
ding-a-ling1935
wacky1935
screwball1936
dingbats1937
Asiatic1938
parlatic1941
troppo1941
up the creek1941
screwed-up1943
bonkers1945
psychological1952
out to lunch1955
starkers1956
off (one's) squiff1960
round the twist1960
yampy1963
out of (also off) one's bird1966
out of one's skull1967
whacked out1969
batshit1971
woo-woo1971
nutso1973
out of (one's) gourd1977
wacko1977
off one's meds1986
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) v. i. 39 To fetch my poore distracted husband hence. View more context for this quotation
1657 J. Howell Londinopolis 65 It [Bethlem] was an Hospital for distracted people.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 116 They ran about..like distracted Men.
a1727 I. Newton Chronol. Anc. Kingdoms Amended (1728) i. 142 Athamas..went distracted and slew his son.
1740 T. Gray Let. 10 July in Corr. (1971) I. 166 The latter died distracted.
1772 Sheridan in Sheridaniana (1826) 38 I was in short almost distracted.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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adj.1598