Balletomane

/ˌbæləˈtoʊmeɪn/ noun

Definition

A person who is an enthusiastic fan or devotee of ballet; someone passionate about ballet dancing.

Etymology

From 'ballet' + the Greek suffix '-mane' (meaning 'madness' or 'mania,' as in 'pyromaniac'). The term was coined in French as 'balletomane' and borrowed into English in the early 20th century.

Kelly Says

The '-mane' suffix comes from Greek 'mania' and is used to describe people obsessed with specific things—think 'pyromaniac,' 'kleptomaniac,' 'Anglophile.' It's a way of saying someone is enthusiastically, almost crazily devoted!

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