erethism

Meanings

1. 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. 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.

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.

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