rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: hystera
Greek

hystera

womb

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Adult overwhelmed by panic sits trembling with hands raised while calm friend offers support, compassionate depiction.
adjective / noun

hysteric

hih-STAIR-ik/hˌɪstˈɛrɪk/

Overwhelmed by intense, uncontrolled emotion.

Etymology
hysterGreekwomb
+icGreekconnected with or characteristic of

The “womb” connection reflects an obsolete medical belief that uterine dysfunction caused hysteria. The adjective became a noun for a person overcome by uncontrolled emotion.

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