Hysterics
/hɪˈstɛr.ɪks/noun
A state of uncontrolled, extreme emotional excitement, often with laughter or crying.
Did you know?Hysterics comes from Greek hystera, meaning “womb,” because ancient medicine wrongly blamed certain emotional symptoms on a wandering uterus.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
hystéra
“womb, uterus”
Late Greek
Greek
hysterikós
“of the womb; suffering from wandering-womb symptoms”
16th Century
Latin/English
hystericus
“relating to the womb; later, emotional or convulsive”
17th-18th Century
English
hysterics
“fits of emotional agitation or convulsive behavior”
Modern English
English
hysterics
“uncontrolled emotional excitement, laughter, or crying”
Explore more surprising origins