Parasympathetic
/ˌpær.əˌsɪm.pəˈθet.ɪk/noun
Relating to the branch of the autonomic nervous system that conserves energy and supports rest, digestion, and recovery.
Did you know?The word was coined in modern scientific Greek from Greek roots: para- (“beside/alongside”) plus sympathētikos, from sympatheia (“feeling together”), a term that once carried the idea of hidden correspondence between things.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
sympatheia
“A feeling of shared suffering or affinity; later, a supposed natural correspondence or influence between things.”
Modern Scientific Greek
Greek
parasympathetikos
“Literally, “beside the sympathetic,” used to name a nerve system counterpart to the sympathetic system.”
Late 19th Century
English
parasympathetic
“A technical term for the division of the autonomic nervous system associated with rest and recovery.”
Modern English
English
parasympathetic
“The branch of the autonomic nervous system that slows the heart and promotes digestion and relaxation.”