Algesic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Concerning properties that are capable of causing or increasing discomfort and pain sensations
2. Pertaining to factors or substances that produce or heighten the feeling of pain
3. Connected with elements that evoke or amplify sensations of discomfort

Etymology: "Algesic" is simply "algesia" with the adjective-making ending "-ic" attached. "Algesia," the medical term for sensitivity to pain, is built from Greek "algos," meaning pain, plus a suffix denoting a condition or state. The "-ic" ending came into English from Latin "-icus," which passed through Old French and Middle English before settling into the form used today. So "algesic" describes anything that produces or heightens pain, in the way "allergic" or "chronic" describe their own qualities.

Synonyms: painful, sensitive, suffering, agonizing, distressing

Antonyms: pain-relieving, anodyne, comforting, soothing, calming