Algogenic

/ˌælɡoʊˈdʒɛnɪk/ adjective

Definition

Causing or producing pain; pain-producing or pain-generating, often used in medical and scientific contexts.

Etymology

Combining 'algo-' (pain, from Latin 'algus') with the suffix '-genic' (producing or generating, from Greek 'genesis'). This medical adjective developed in the 19th and 20th centuries as pain science became more systematized.

Kelly Says

Doctors use 'algogenic' to describe substances or conditions that trigger pain—for example, inflammation is algogenic because it causes pain signals, and understanding what's algogenic helps them design better pain-relief treatments!

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