Hypersensitive
/ˌhaɪpərˈsɛnsɪtɪv/noun
Excessively or abnormally sensitive; easily affected or offended.
Did you know?Hypersensitive is a modern scientific formation built from Greek hyper- meaning “over, beyond,” so the word itself encodes excess before the feeling even starts.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
hyper-
“over, beyond, above measure”
Late Latin
Latin
sensitivus
“capable of feeling or sensing”
Middle French
French
sensitif
“sensitive, responsive to sensation”
17th Century
English
sensitive
“easily impressed by external influence or feeling”
19th Century
English
hypersensitive
“excessively sensitive; abnormally responsive”
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