excitability
UK: ɪkˌsaɪtəˈbɪləti | US: ɪkˌsaɪtəˈbɪləti
n. the quality or state of being easily excited or stimulated
n. (Physiology) the capacity of a tissue or cell to respond to stimuli
The word "excitability" combines "excit," derived from Latin excitare (to rouse or stir up), with the suffix "-ability," from Latin -abilitas (indicating capacity or tendency). The root "excit" retains its core meaning of stimulation, while "-ability" transforms it into a noun describing the potential for such a reaction. This construction reflects a logical progression from action ("excite") to inherent quality ("excitability"), commonly used in both everyday language and scientific contexts (e.g., neuronal excitability).
The child's excitability made it hard for him to sit still during class.
Caffeine increases neural excitability in the brain.
Her natural excitability made her the life of the party.
The doctor measured the muscle's excitability with electrical pulses.
High excitability in certain animals can be a sign of stress.