hysteria
|hys-ter-i-a|
🇺🇸
/hɪˈstɛriə/
🇬🇧
/hɪˈstɪəriə/
extreme emotional excitement
Etymology
'hysteria' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'hystera,' meaning 'womb,' reflecting the ancient belief that the condition was related to the uterus.
'hystera' transformed into the Latin word 'hysteria,' and eventually became the modern English word 'hysteria' through Middle English.
Initially, it meant 'a condition thought to be caused by disturbances in the uterus,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'extreme emotional excitement or disturbance.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a state of extreme emotional excitement or disturbance, often characterized by irrationality, laughter, weeping, etc.
The crowd was in a state of hysteria after the unexpected win.
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Noun 2
a psychological disorder (historically attributed to women) marked by emotional excitability and sometimes by amnesia or a physical symptom without an organic cause.
In the 19th century, hysteria was often diagnosed in women.
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Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:40