pain-insensitive
|pain-in-sen-si-tive|
🇺🇸
/ˈpeɪn ɪnˈsɛnsətɪv/
🇬🇧
/ˈpeɪn ɪnˈsɛnsɪtɪv/
not feeling pain
Etymology
'pain-insensitive' originates from Modern English, formed by combining the noun 'pain' and the adjective 'insensitive'.
'insensitive' comes from Latin 'insensibilis' (in- 'not' + sensibilis 'perceivable'), passed through Old French 'insensible' into Middle English; 'pain' comes from Old French 'peine', ultimately from Latin 'poena'.
Initially 'pain' often meant 'punishment' (from Latin 'poena'), later shifting to physical 'pain'; 'insensitive' originally meant 'not perceptible' and now commonly means 'not responsive to sensory or emotional pain'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
physically not sensitive to pain; having reduced or absent pain perception (medical context).
The patient was pain-insensitive due to diabetic neuropathy.
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Adjective 2
figuratively not affected or moved by emotional hurt or painful events; unresponsive to others' suffering.
He came across as pain-insensitive to criticism and setbacks.
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Last updated: 2025/08/17 16:28