erethism

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈɛrəˌθɪzəm/ UK /ˈerɪθɪzəm/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
an abnormally high degree of irritability or responsiveness to stimulation

Exhaustion left his senses in a state of erethism, alert to every sound.
2

noun
a neurological syndrome associated especially with chronic mercury poisoning, marked by irritability, shyness, depression, and tremor

Historical accounts of hatmakers describe erethism caused by long exposure to mercury vapor.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an abnormally high degree... hyperexcitabilityirritabilityoverstimulation

2 noun · a neurological syndrome... mercurial erethismmad hatter syndrome

Opposites

insensitivity calmness

Word family

Derived forms erethismic

Related forms erethicmercury poisoningstimulation

Etymology

From French erethisme, from Greek erethismos, 'irritation or excitement,' based on erethizein, 'to irritate or provoke.' Medical writers adopted it around 1800 for abnormal responsiveness, including the behavioral syndrome caused by mercury poisoning.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# erethism

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɛrəˌθɪzəm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈerɪθɪzəm/

## Meanings
1. an abnormally high degree of irritability or responsiveness to stimulation
2. a neurological syndrome associated especially with chronic mercury poisoning, marked by irritability, shyness, depression, and tremor

## Examples
- Exhaustion left his senses in a state of erethism, alert to every sound.
- Historical accounts of hatmakers describe erethism caused by long exposure to mercury vapor.

## Synonyms
- hyperexcitability
- irritability
- mercurial erethism

## Antonyms
- insensitivity
- calmness

## Derived Forms
- erethismic

## Related Forms
- erethic
- mercury poisoning
- stimulation

## Etymology
From French erethisme, from Greek erethismos, 'irritation or excitement,' based on erethizein, 'to irritate or provoke.' Medical writers adopted it around 1800 for abnormal responsiveness, including the behavioral syndrome caused by mercury poisoning.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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