Exact meaning of this Definition

[TAReber]

I had a question about a definition I looked up in the online Oxford English dictionary for the Word "Rampage".

rush around in a violent and uncontrollable manner.

would the ending of this definition, and Uncontrollable manner, put a sever limitations on the word, when and where the word can be used, to the point where the whole word it self is redundant?

"And", The fact that it is conjuncted means that a situation being uncontrollable is required for it to be a rampage.

"Uncontrollable" meaning not controllable as in impossible to control

"Manner" is a way which something is done or happens.

"To rush around in a violent" I think would limit the word to only being applicable to something that can alter its own direction, or something that is conscious of it self.

So to my understanding in order for something to be a rampage, the thing has to be aware, rushing, acting violently, and impossible to control.

I thought about uncontrollable until control can be established, but thats like saying "impossible until possible".

Is it an inaccurate definition, or is my understanding of things mistaken?

[jlinger]

I think you have it pretty well sussed out, except for the "aware" part. A broken dam can lead to a rampaging flood of water. The water is not aware of what it is doing.

[TAReber]

ahh, i see your point

[Raymott]

Rampages tend to burn themselves out. Once they are at that stage, they become controllable by police etc.

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Definitions of words don't necessarily cover all the semantic components. Often they are an attempt to get close to the possible meaning. Again awareness doesn't necerssarily imply you are in control even if it sounds to be a contradiction.

[TAReber]

Yes, I would question the word awareness my self, it does seem misused, an error on my part.

[Tdol]

The media talk of hordes of youths on the rampage in town centres at night and there doesn't always have to be violence, does there? Surly menace on top of industrial quantities of alcohol seems to suffice.

[TAReber]

Researching violence a little further, its meaning seems to be a physical force exerted for the purpose of damaging, violating or abusing. I guess I just assumed that the damage that was done was always in physical form.

It could mean a non-objective form of abuse or damage also. Meaning conditions that damage a person psychologically and/or physically.

I find the whole word strange, because the only reason rampage can be recognized is when someone is around to recognize it. When they do, its purely subjective, no set time frame or definable amount of force exerted to reach a state of being in a rampage exist. In the end a state of being in a rampage is just an opinion.