Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

anaesthesia

‖

anˊæs-the′si-a

,

anˊes-the′si-a

(ănˊĕs-thē′zē̍-ȧ or ănˊĕs-thē′zhȧ)
,
Noun.
[NL., fr. Gr.
ἀναισθησία
;
ἀν
priv. +
αἴσθησισ
feeling,
αἰσθάνεσθαι
to feel: cf. F.
anesthésie
. See
aesthetics
.]
(Med.)
Entire or partial loss or absence of feeling or sensation; a state of general or local insensibility produced by disease or by the inhalation or application of an anaesthetic.
AS

Definition 2024

anaesthesia

anaesthesia

English

Alternative forms

Noun

anaesthesia ‎(uncountable)

  1. (British, medicine) A method of preventing sensation, used to eliminate pain.
  2. Loss or prevention of pain, as caused by anesthesia.
Translations

Related terms

References

  1. ↑ Small, Miriam Rossiter (1962). Oliver Wendell Homes. Twayne’s United States authors series, 29. New York: Twayne Publishers. OCLC 273508,page 55

Etymology

an- +‎ aesthesia, from Ancient Greek ἀναισθησία ‎(anaisthēsía), from ἀν- ‎(an-, “not”) with αἴσθησις ‎(aísthēsis, “sensation”).

Coined in 1846 CE by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., in a letter to dentist William T. G. Morton, the first practitioner to publicly demonstrate the use of ether during surgery, writing:

Everybody wants to have a hand in a great discovery. All I will do is to give a hint or two as to names—or the name—to be applied to the state produced and the agent. The state should, I think, be called ‘Anaesthesia.’ This signifies insensibility—more particularly ... to objects of touch.[1]

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈæn.əs.θiːz.i.ə/
  • (US) IPA(key): /æn.əs.ˈθi.ʒə/

Similar Results