hyperalgesic
|hy-per-al-ges-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌhaɪpərælˈdʒiːzɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌhaɪpərəˈldʒiːzɪk/
increased sensitivity to pain
Etymology
'hyperalgesic' originates from modern medical English formation combining Greek elements: 'hyper-' (from Greek 'hyper' meaning 'over, excessive') + root from Greek 'algos'/'algesia' (meaning 'pain') plus the English adjectival suffix '-ic'.
'hyperalgesic' developed from the medical noun 'hyperalgesia' (formed in 19th–20th century medical terminology) by adding the adjectival suffix '-ic'; 'hyperalgesia' itself is a compound of Greek 'hyper-' + 'algesia' (from 'algos').
Initially the Greek elements meant 'excess' ('hyper-') and 'pain' ('algos'); over time the compound came to denote clinically increased sensitivity to pain, and the adjective 'hyperalgesic' describes either the state or causes/manifestations of that increased sensitivity.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person or thing exhibiting hyperalgesia or, less commonly, an agent/condition that produces hyperalgesia.
In experimental models a hyperalgesic shows exaggerated responses to normally painful stimuli.
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Adjective 1
having or showing an increased sensitivity to pain (i.e., more easily or more intensely pain is perceived).
After the nerve injury the patient became hyperalgesic in the affected limb.
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Adjective 2
causing or relating to hyperalgesia (used of a drug, condition, or stimulus that increases pain sensitivity).
Some opioid regimens can be hyperalgesic, paradoxically increasing pain in some patients.
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Last updated: 2025/09/25 04:07