-ergic as in sentences like Y is Xergic denotes that Y has the property of being sensitive to X or that Y produces X. In simple terms, it means that the noun does something with x. In my field of study, this os true for e.g. dopaminergic-, serotonergic-, and glutamatergic neurons which are neurons that are sensitive to these respective neurotransmitters and/or releases them.
But the word allergic seems to denote only a sensitivity to allergens but not a production of allergens? An allergic person does not release pollen. Is the word allergic too general and therefore a misnomer?
Answer
The etymology of the term is different from what you are suggesting, I don't think it is a misnomer:
Allergic (adj.) :
- 1911, from allergy + -ic; perhaps modeled on French allergique (1906).
allergy (n.) :
- 1911, from German Allergie, coined 1906 by Austrian pediatrician Clemens E. von Pirquet (1874-1929) from Greek allos "other, different, strange" (see alias (adv.)) + ergon "activity" (see organ).
- Containing, involving, or transmitting dopamine.
Etymology:
-ergic
- produced by the specified thing
- activated by the specified thing
No comments:
Post a Comment