Innervate
/ˈɪn.ə.v.eɪt/noun
To supply nerves to a body part, enabling it to function.
Did you know?In ancient medical texts, the concept of innervation was linked to the flow of 'vital spirits' through the body, believed to grant life and energy.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
innervare
“to supply with nerves or to stimulate”
Late Latin
Late Latin
innervatus
“nerved; endowed with nerves”
Early Modern English
English
innervate
“to endow a body part with nerve fibers”
19th Century
English
innervate
“to stimulate or activate a body part through nerve supply”