hysteria Definition

hysteria
noun hysterias

1. psychol.
A psychoneurosis characterized by mental and physical symptoms such as hallucinations, convulsions, amnesia or paralysis.
2. Any state of emotional instability caused by acute stress or a traumatic experience.
3. Any extreme emotional state, such as laughter or weeping.

Thesaurus: agitation, frenzy, madness, panic, delirium; Antonym: calm, composure, reason.

Etymology: 19c: from Greek hystera womb, from the former belief that disturbances in the womb caused emotional imbalance.