Mad, Madder And Yet Madder

Rav Shlomo Pappenheim (יריעות שלמה - 1740-1814) ranks seven different words for “anger” in terms of how intensely angry one becomes: The simplest form of anger is called ka’as. If one’s anger reaches a point where his body starts shaking because of his fury, this is called za’am. When one’s anger causes his body to start heating up, this is called cheimah, and when one’s anger brings his blood to a boil, this is called charon. When a person’s fury has reached the boiling point and is even visible on his facial expression, this is called charon-af (because he exhales hot air through his nose). When one becomes so rabidly angry that a sort of white foam forms around his lips, this is called ketzef. When a person becomes so angry that his body puffs up and becomes distended, this is called evrah (because this engorgement resembles a pregnant woman’s swelling).