Wiktionary

anesthetic

English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Ancient Greek ἀναίσθητος (anaísthētos, “insensible”), from ἀν- (an-, “un-”) + αἰσθητικός (aisthētikós, “perceptible”).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˌænəsˈθɛtɪk/, (nonstandard) /ˌænəsˈtɛtɪk/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛtɪk

Adjective edit

anesthetic (comparative more anesthetic, superlative most anesthetic) (American spelling, Canadian spelling)

  1. Causing anesthesia; reducing pain sensitivity.
  2. Insensate: unable to feel, or unconscious.
    • 1924, Maurice Walter Keatinge, Suggestion in Education:
      (I find that he is analgesic and anaesthetic; evidently he is in a state of passive somnambulism.)
      E. A. Did you feel anybody touch you?
      K. No. There's no one near me. (He continues laughing and talking. […] )
    • 1984, B. R. Hergenhahn, An Introduction to Theories of Personality, Prentice Hall:
      Though physically capable of attaining sex rewards, he is anesthetic; though capable of aggression, he is meek; though capable of affection, he is cold and unresponsive.
    • 2012, H.L. Mencken, Mencken Chrestomathy, Vintage, →ISBN, page 189:
      He is anesthetic to their theological and political enthusiasms. He finds himself an alien at their feasts of soul.

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

Noun edit

anesthetic (plural anesthetics)

  1. (American spelling, medicine) A substance administered to reduce the perception of pain or to induce numbness for surgery and may render the recipient unconscious.
    • 1994, Anesthetics (Ophthalmic) (original version), Drugs.com:
      After a local anesthetic is applied to the eye, do not rub or wipe the eye until the anesthetic has worn off and feeling in the eye returns.
    • 2004, David B. Jacoby, R. M. Youngson, Encyclopedia of Family Health, Marshall Cavendish, page 91:
      Modern anesthetics can be divided into several different groups according to how and where they act to reduce pain.
      During premedication, the anesthetist may give a patient drugs that make him or her feel relaxed and drowsy before the actual general anesthetic is administered.

Translations edit

References edit

  • "Anesthetics", 2010 MeSH, National Library of Medicine.

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit

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