- neuro-
- before vowels neur-, word-forming element meaning "pertaining to a nerve or nerves or the nervous system," from Greek neuro-, comb. form of neuron "nerve," originally "sinew, tendon, cord, bowstring," also "strength, vigor," from PIE *(s)neu- "tendon, sinew" (see nerve).
- neurosurgeon (n.)
- also neuro-surgeon, 1887, from neuro- + surgeon. Related: Neurosurgery; neurosurgical.
- neurology (n.)
- "scientific study of the nervous system," 1680s, from Modern Latin neurologia, from Modern Greek neurologia (1660s), from neuro- (see neuro-) + -logia "study" (see -logy). Related: Neurological.
- neuron (n.)
- "a nerve cell with appendages," 1891, from German Neuron, from Greek neuron (see neuro-). Used earlier (1884) for "the spinal cord and brain."
- neurotic (adj.)
- 1775, "acting upon or stimulating the nerves," from Greek neuron "nerve" (see neuro-) + -otic, as in hypnotic. Sense of "affected by neurosis" is 1887. The noun meaning "a neurotic person" is from 1896. Related: Neurotically.
- neuroscience (n.)
- 1963, from neuro- + science.
- neurotransmitter (n.)
- 1961, from neuro- + transmitter.
- neuropathy (n.)
- 1827, from neuro- + -pathy. Related: Neuropath; neuropathic; neuropathist.
- hypnotism (n.)
- 1843, short for neuro-hypnotism (1842), coined by Dr. James Braid of Manchester, England, from hypnotic + -ism. In the same work (1843) Braid coined the verb hypnotize.
- neural (adj.)
- "pertaining to a nerve or nerves," 1830, from Greek neuron "nerve" (see neuro-) + adjectival suffix -al (1). Related: Neurally.
- neuralgia (n.)
- 1807, from Greek neuron "nerve" (see neuro-) + -algia. Probably formed on model of French névralgie (1801). Related: Neuralgic.
- aponeurosis (n.)
- 1670s, from Latin, from Greek aponeurosis, from aponeuroein, from apo- "off, away from" (see apo-) + neuron "sinew" (see neuro-).
- neurasthenia (n.)
- "nervous exhaustion," 1854, medical Latin, from neur- (form of neuro- before a vowel) + asthenia "weakness" (see asthenia). Related: Neurasthenic.
- neuritis (n.)
- "inflammation of a nerve or nerves," 1825, from Greek neuron "nerve" (see neuro-) + -itis "inflammation." Related: Neuritic.
- neuroglia (n.)
- 1867, medical Latin, coined 1853 by German pathologist Ludwig Karl Virchow (1821-1902) from neuro- + Late Greek glia "glue," from PIE *glei- "to stick together" (see clay).
- neurosis (n.)
- 1776, "functional derangement arising from disorders of the nervous system," coined by Scottish physician William Cullen (1710-1790) from Greek neuron "nerve" (see neuro-) + Modern Latin -osis "abnormal condition." Used in a general psychological sense since 1871; clinical use in psychiatry dates from 1923.
