Ophelian

English

Etymology

From Ophelia +‎ -an. Compare French ophélique, ophélien.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ə(ʊ)ˈfiːliən/
• Homophone: aphelion (one pronunciation)
• Rhymes: -iːliən

Adjective

Ophelian (comparative more Ophelian, superlative most Ophelian)

1. Depicting or pertaining to Ophelia.

   the Ophelian scene

2. Frantic; tragically insane.
   • 1969, Vladimir Nabokov, Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle, published 1990, →ISBN:

     Punning in an Ophelian frenzy on the feminine glans? Raving about the delectations of clitorism?

   • 2010, Jean-Christophe Valtat, Aurorarama, →ISBN:

     But she was a wee tad affected, and from the little that Gabriel had read or heard from her, she had an Ophelian streak of potential craziness that he had, since day one, deemed wiser to steer clear of, […]

   • 1906, Mabel Sarah Barnes-Grundy, Hazel of Heatherland, page 213:

     Great hailstones keep dashing against my window and dancing about on the garden walks like things demented. The monkey trees are waving their long arms about with Ophelian gestures, and the chestnuts near the gate groan and sway […]

Anagrams

• aphelion