erethism

UK: /ˈɛrɪˌθɪzəm/ US: (er′ə thiz′əm)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

er•e•thism  (er′ə thiz′əm), n. [Physiol.]

1. Physiology an unusual or excessive degree of irritability or stimulation in an organ or tissue.

• Greek erethismós irritation, equivalent. to ereth(ízein) to irritate + -ismos -ism
• French éréthisme
• 1790–1800;

er′e•this′mic, er•e•this•tic  (er′ə this′tik), er•e•thit•ic  (er′ə thit′ik), e•reth•ic  (ə reth′ik, e reth′-), adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

erethism / ˈɛrɪˌθɪzəm/ noun

1. an abnormally high degree of irritability or sensitivity in any part of the body
2. a personality disorder resulting from mercury poisoning
3. an abnormal tendency to become aroused quickly, esp sexually, as the result of a verbal or psychic stimulus

Etymology: 18th Century: from French éréthisme, from Greek erethismos irritation, from erethizein to excite, irritate