What is "amentia"

Amentia \A*men"ti*a\, n. [L.] (Med.) Imbecility; total lack of understanding.

"mental deficiency," late 14c., from Latin amentia "madness," from amentem "mad," from a- "away from" + mentem "mind" (see mind (n.)) + abstract noun ending -ia.

n. Mental impairment; state of being mentally handicapped.

n. extreme mental retardation [syn: idiocy]