erethism

[ er-uh-thiz-uhm ]

noun

, Physiology.

1. an unusual or excessive degree of irritability or stimulation in an organ or tissue.

erethism

/ ˈɛrɪˌθɪzəm /

noun

1. physiol an abnormally high degree of irritability or sensitivity in any part of the body
2. psychiatry
   1. a personality disorder resulting from mercury poisoning
   2. an abnormal tendency to become aroused quickly, esp sexually, as the result of a verbal or psychic stimulus

Derived Forms

• ˌereˈthismic, adjective

Other Words From

• ere·thismic er·e·this·tic [er-, uh, -, this, -tik], er·e·thit·ic [er-, uh, -, thit, -ik], e·reth·ic [uh, -, reth, -ik, e-, reth, -], adjective
• hyper·ere·thism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of erethism¹

1790–1800; < French éréthisme < Greek erethismós irritation, equivalent to ereth ( ízein ) to irritate + -ismos -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of erethism¹

C18: from French éréthisme, from Greek erethismos irritation, from erethizein to excite, irritate

Example Sentences

Normally, there appears to be no erethism of the sexual organs during the process of love-making.

From Project Gutenberg

In all these cases it is worthy of remark that there was present an unusual degree of cerebral erethism.

From Project Gutenberg

They lose control over their vasomotor system to some extent as a result of this systemic erethism.

From Project Gutenberg

At the same time they consider that, while erethism is less, sexuality is greater than in men.

From Project Gutenberg

But ought this excess of nervous erethism to be referred necessarily to the peculiar nature of the Urning?

From Project Gutenberg