beside oneself

Definition

Overcome; consumed by an emotion.

Etymology

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".

Example Sentences

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