erethism

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Related terms 1.3.2 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From French éréthisme, from Ancient Greek ἐρεθισμός, from ἐρεθίζειν ‘to irritate’.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɛɹɪθɪzəm/

[edit] Noun

erethism (plural erethisms)

1. (pathology) Abnormal excitement of a bodily organ or tissue.
2. Any unusual or morbid over-excitement.
   • 1978: Since the eighteenth century, sex has not ceased to provoke a kind of generalized discursive erethism. — Michel Foucault, The History of Sexuality Volume I, trans. Robert Hurley (Penguin 1978, p. 32)

[edit] Related terms

• erethic

[edit] Translations