You searched for: “amuck”
amok (uh MUHK) (adjective), amuck (uh MUHK); more amok, more amuck; most amok, most amuck
Relating to being crazed with murderous frenzy: The amuck troops invaded the town shooting at everyone who could be seen.
This entry is located in the following unit: English Words in Action, Group A (page 5)
amok (adverb), amuck; more amok, more amuck; most amok, most amuck
1. A reference to something or someone who is out-of-control or in a frenzy: The newspapers frequently have stories about gunmen who have run amok somewhere in the world.
2. Wildly; without self-control: Bradley went amok berserk one day when he went around shooting at everyone.

Click on this berserk link if you want more information about it.

3. Pertaining to a confused or disorganized condition; especially, when armed and dangerous: The sheriff was looking for an escaped prisoner who was running amok in the forest.

In her unclear and mixed state of mind, Marita left her home and wandered amok on the prairie for hours.

4. A description of a jumbled or disorganized situation: No matter how many experts Jack and Jill had consulted, all of their travel plans went amuck!
5. Etymology: from Malay amok, "attacking furiously". Earlier the word was used as a noun or adjective meaning "a frenzied Malay"; originally from a Portuguese form amouco or amuco.

Today anyone who wantonly shoots people is said to have run amuck (run amuck is the usual phrase to use); and so it indicates mental derangement, a madness to do violence or to kill indiscriminately.

This entry is located in the following unit: English Words in Action, Group A (page 5)