Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hypersensitivity” come from?

Hypersensitivity derives from English sensitive, from Middle French sensitif, from Latin sensitivus (capable of feeling), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sent- (to perceive) and -it-.

hypersensitivity (English): Any heightened immune response to an antigen; an...

Definitions

  1. Any heightened immune response to an antigen; an...

Ancestry of “hypersensitivity”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsensitivityThe quality or state of being sensitive;...
2EnglishsensitiveHaving the faculty of sensation; pertaining to...
3Middle Frenchsensitif—
4Medieval Latinsensitivussensitive; detectable, perceivable
5LatinsentioI feel, I sense, I perceive; I perceive, I am...
6Proto-Italicsentjō—
7Proto-Indo-Europeansent-to head for, to go, to travel; to feel
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁es-to be

Words derived from “hypersensitivity”

  • pseudohypersensitivity
  • electrohypersensitivity
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁es- →