‖ hyperæsthesia
(-ɛs-, -iːsˈθiːsɪə)
[mod.L., f. hyper- 5 + Gr. -αισθησία, αἴσθησις perception, feeling.]
Path. Excessive and morbid sensitiveness of the nerves or nerve-centres.
| 1849–52 Todd Cycl. Anat. IV. 1184/2 In a case of Hyperæsthesia..the patient could perceive the distinctness of the two points on the foot. 1880 M. Mackenzie Dis. Throat & Nose I. 415 Hysterical persons, suffering from hyperaesthesia or paraesthesia of the larynx, often erroneously fancy that something is sticking in the part. |
b. transf. Excessive sensibility or sensitiveness (in general).
| 1865 Lecky Ration. II. 103 note, In sleep, hyperæsthesia of the memory is very common. 1866 Alger Solit. Nat. & Man iv. 264 He suffered dreadfully from what may be called social hyperæsthesia, a morbid over-feeling of the relations between himself and others. |