Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “irritation” come from?

Irritation comes from Middle French irritation, from Latin irritatio (act of provoking), derived from the Latin -tio suffix combined with a Proto-Indo-European root h₃er- meaning to stir or agitate.

irritation (English): The act of irritating or annoying; The state of...

Definitions

  1. The act of irritating or annoying; The state of...

Ancestry of “irritation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchirritation—
2Latinirrītātiō—
3Latin-tiō—
4Latindissertātiō—
5Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
6Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “irritation”

  • counterirritation
  • irritational
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →