hypersensitize
Americanverb (used with object)
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Photography. to treat (a film or emulsion) so as to increase its speed.
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Pathology. to strongly heighten a reaction upon reexposure to a particular antigen.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hypersensitize
First recorded in 1895–1900; hypersensit(ive) + -ize
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His film was Du Pont Superior panchromatic, hypersensitized to half again its rated speed by exposing it to fumes of the strongest ammonia obtainable in a closed box for four minutes.
From Time Magazine Archive
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Only with his retreat, certain words, like Parthian arrows, floated in from the storm to Peckover's hypersensitized ears.
From A Poached Peerage by Magnay, William
In the hypersensitized state of her nerves the question hurt keenly.
From The Open Question a tale of two temperaments by Robins, Elizabeth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.