The word for today is…

lunatic (noun, adjective)

noun
1 dated, now offensive : someone affected with a severely disordered state of mind
2 informal : a person who behaves in a wildly foolish, reckless, or uncontrolled manner

adjective
1a dated, now offensive : affected with a severely disordered state of mind
b dated, now offensive : providing care to mentally ill people – a lunatic asylum
2 informal : wildly foolish

Source : Merriam -Webster

Etymology : Middle English lunatik, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French lunatic, from Late Latin lunaticus, from Latin luna; from the belief that lunacy fluctuated with the phases of the moon. First known use of both noun and adjective is the 14th century.

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David is a retired surgeon originally from London who came to New Zealand twenty-seven years ago after being delayed in Singapore for thirteen years on leaving the UK. He was coerced into studying Latin...