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Definition

Overcome; consumed by an emotion.

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Origins

Possibly derived from Ancient Greek παράνοια (paránoia, “madness”), from παράνοος (paránoos, “demented”), from παρά (pará, “beyond, beside”) + νόος (nóos, “mind, spirit”), with "beside mind" evolving into "beside oneself".

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In Context

  • "His widow was beside herself with grief."
  • "[...] he contemplated it most calmly. Comparatively, all other men, North and South, were beside themselves."