'hyperesthetic' originates from Greek elements: 'hyper-' from Greek 'huper' meaning 'over, above', and 'esthetic' from Greek 'aisthētikos' meaning 'perceptible by the senses'.

'hyperesthetic' is a modern English formation combining the prefix 'hyper-' with 'esthetic' (from 'aesthetic'); it developed in medical and psychological usage in the 19th–20th centuries to describe heightened sensory perception.

Initially formed to denote 'over-sensation' or 'excessive sensory responsiveness'; it has retained this specialized meaning and is used mainly in clinical contexts to describe increased sensory sensitivity.