Causes annoyance or anger; makes sore or inflamed through friction or chemical action.
From Latin 'irritatus,' past participle of 'irritare' meaning 'to provoke, excite, or stimulate.' Entered English in the 16th century, initially with the medical sense of inflammation, later extending to psychological annoyance.
The dual meaning of irritation - both physical inflammation and emotional annoyance - reflects how our ancestors understood that mental and physical discomfort share similar qualities. Both involve a kind of 'rubbing the wrong way' that creates discomfort.
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