anesthesia
an-uhs-THEE-zhuh
/ˌæn.əsˈθiː.zi.ə/
The loss of sensation or awareness induced by medical administration of drugs prior to or during a procedure.
Refers specifically to medically induced insensitivity to pain, ranging from local numbing to full unconsciousness.
The story behind the word. Coined from ancient Greek root words meaning 'without sensation', the term was famously suggested in 1846 by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. in a letter to William T. G. Morton after the successful public demonstration of ether at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Word relationships
- insensibility: Insensibility is a general lack of feeling or awareness, whereas anesthesia is medically controlled.
- narcosis: Narcosis specifically implies a state of stupor or drowsiness caused by drugs.
- hyperesthesia: Hyperesthesia denotes abnormal hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli.
Commonly confused with
- analgesia: Analgesia specifically relieves pain without necessarily loss of tactile sensation or consciousness, while anesthesia blocks all sensation.
Word family
- anesthetic (noun): A drug that induces loss of sensation.
- anesthesiologist (noun): A physician specializing in pain management and surgical anesthesia.
Collocations
- general anesthesia
- local anesthesia
- administer anesthesia
- under anesthesia
Example sentences
- "The introduction of general anesthesia revolutionized modern surgery in the mid-nineteenth century." Medical history regarding surgical pain prevention
- "Before entering the operating room, the anesthesiologist discussed the potential risks of general anesthesia with the patient." Clinical preoperative consultation
Memory hook
AN (without) + ESTHESIA (aesthetic feeling) = without any physical feeling. No feeling during surgery.
When not to use
Do not use to describe natural numbness or falling asleep normally.
Fun facts
- Oliver Wendell Holmes suggested the word to describe the newly discovered state of pain-free surgery.
Explore more words
oblivion, desensitize, tolerance, subliminal, palliative, amnesia
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