appestat
|ap-pe-stat|
/ˈæpəstæt/
appetite regulator
Etymology
'appestat' originates from modern English coinage combining 'appetite' (from Latin 'appetitus', past participle of 'appetere' meaning 'to strive for' or 'desire') and the suffix '-stat' (from Greek 'stat-'/'statos' meaning 'standing' or a device that maintains a state).
'appestat' appears to have been coined in the mid-20th century in physiological and neurobiological contexts by analogy with compounds like 'thermostat' and 'hemostat', forming from 'appetite' + '-stat' to name a regulator of appetite.
Initially coined to denote a regulatory or stabilizing mechanism for appetite (literally an 'appetite-stabilizer'), it came to be used more specifically for brain centers or physiological systems (especially in the hypothalamus) that control hunger and satiety.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a physiological mechanism or brain center that regulates appetite, hunger, and satiety, often referring to hypothalamic centers involved in feeding behavior.
Researchers examined the appestat in the hypothalamus to better understand how hunger and fullness signals are controlled.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/25 00:50