English Lexicon

Irritability

/ˌɪr.ɪ.təˈbɪl.ə.ti/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #14200 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The state of being easily annoyed, angered, or impatient.

    "Lack of sleep can often lead to increased irritability during the workday."
  2. 2

    The physiological capacity of an organism or its parts to respond to stimuli.

    "Muscle tissue exhibits high irritability when subjected to electrical impulses."

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Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the late Middle English adjective 'irritable', stemming from the Latin 'irritabilis', which traces back to the verb 'irritare' meaning 'to snarl, provoke, or excite'. By the 18th century, the suffix '-ity' was added to denote a state or quality, initially used primarily in biological and physiological contexts before expanding to psychological emotional states.

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