erethism
[er-uh-thiz-uh m]
- an unusual or excessive degree of irritability or stimulation in an organ or tissue.
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Origin of erethism
1790–1800; < French éréthisme < Greek erethismós irritation, equivalent to ereth(ízein) to irritate + -ismos -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for erethism
Historical Examples
The intense excitement of the events had no doubt left my perceptive powers in a state of erethism.
The War of the WorldsH. G. Wells
Normally, there appears to be no erethism of the sexual organs during the process of love-making.
At the same time they consider that, while erethism is less, sexuality is greater than in men.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 3 (of 6)Havelock Ellis
If this flow is continued, without proper periods of repose, a state of erethism and insomnia is produced.
Sleep and Its DerangementsWilliam A. Hammond
Erethism, er′e-thizm, n. excitement or stimulation of any organ.
erethism
- physiol an abnormally high degree of irritability or sensitivity in any part of the body
- psychiatry
- a personality disorder resulting from mercury poisoning
- an abnormal tendency to become aroused quickly, esp sexually, as the result of a verbal or psychic stimulus
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Word Origin
C18: from French éréthisme, from Greek erethismos irritation, from erethizein to excite, irritate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
erethism
(ĕr′ə-thĭz′əm)- Abnormal irritability or sensitivity of an organ or body part to stimulation.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.