Meanings
plural erethisms
- countableuncountableAny unusual or morbid overexcitement.
Since the eighteenth century, sex has not ceased to provoke a kind of generalized discursive erethism.
1978, Robert Hurley, translated by Michel Foucault, The History of Sexuality Volume I, Penguin, page 32 - countableuncountableA neurological disorder arising from mercury poisoning, leading to irritability, depression, etc.
Synonyms: erethism mercurialis, mad hatter disease, mad hatter syndrome
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA neurological disorder arising from mercury poisoning, leading to irritability, depression, etc.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἐρεθισμός
- Frenchéréthisme
- Englisherethism
From French éréthisme, from Ancient Greek ἐρεθισμός (erethismós), from ἐρεθίζειν (erethízein, “to irritate”).
More words from French, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan eretisme
- eretismepathology: abnormal excitement of organ or tissue
Finnish eretismi, yliärtymys
- eretismipathology: abnormal excitement of organ or tissue
- yliärtymysoverexcitement
French éréthisme
- éréthismepathology: abnormal excitement of organ or tissue
German Erethismus, Erethie
- Erethismuspathology: abnormal excitement of organ or tissue
- Erethiepathology: abnormal excitement of organ or tissue
Spanish eretismo
- eretismopathology: abnormal excitement of organ or tissue
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
erethism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/erethism
“erethism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/erethism. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “erethism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/erethism.
Source: erethism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.