1. A state of abnormal sensitivity or irritability of an organ or tissue; excessive responsiveness to stimulation.
Usage: medical/physiological term; plural form of erethism
2. Excessive or abnormal mental excitement or stimulation; a state of heightened nervous tension.
Usage: archaic or literary usage

Examples

• The patient's erethisms in the affected nerve suggested an inflammatory response.
• Chronic stress can lead to various erethisms of the nervous system.
• The doctor noted increased erethisms in the patient's sensory receptors.
• Mercury poisoning historically caused erethisms characterized by tremors and mood swings.
• Certain medications may trigger erethisms in sensitive individuals.