irrita-

(Latin: to anger; to excite, to stimulate, to stir up, to provoke)

abirritant (ab IR i tuhnt) (adjective); more abirritant, most abirritant
Pertaining to a medication which can sooth a discomfort or irritation: The doctor prescribed an abirritant cream for the rash on Tamara’s arm.

When Larry went home, he applied some abirritant lotion which helped to sooth the itching on his back.

After Dennis had finished his shower, he applied some more abirritant cream to the itchy places on his feet.

Using the ointment provided the most abirritant sensational effects for Joe's sore foot.

abirritate (ab IR i tayt”) (verb), abirritates; abirritated; abirritating
1. To diminish the sensitivity of; to weaken: A good hand lotion will help to abirritate the dryness of a person's hands.

Rocking baby Lillie abirritates her distress and helps her to sleep better.

2. To make less irritable; to soothe: The new ointment really abirritated the dryness of Jackie's hands very quickly.

Walking through the woods and listening to the birds abirritate and relax Jim so he can think more clearly.

Ken played soft music to abirritate his baby who was upset by the constant sound of the dog's barking.

abirritation (s) (noun), abirritations (pl)
1. Diminution or abolition of irritability in a body part: A good meal and pleasant background music are abirritations that really sooth Ida's irritations and bad temper.
2. A lack or loss of strength and energy; weakness: Being ill for several weeks brought about a general abirritation in Frank's sister that made her listless and sad.
counteriritation
1. An agent that causes irritation or a mild inflammation of the skin in order to relieve symptoms of a deep-seated inflammatory process.
2. An agent that induces local inflammation to relieve inflammation in underlying or adjacent tissues.
3. Relating to or producing counterirritation.
4. Any irritation or annoyance that draws attention away from another irritating situation.
histio-irritative, histioirritative
An agent capable of irritating tissues, particularly connective tissue.
hyperirritability (s) (noun) (no pl)
1. Extreme bad temper; impatience; peevishness: Mrs. Dash, Jim's teacher, was known for her hypeirritability when the class became too loud and unruly.
2. An undue response to a stimulus: Darcy's hyperirritability came apparent when he accidentally saw his father who had mistreated him as a child.
hyperirritable (adjective), more hyperirritable, most hyperirritable
Excessively disposed to impatience, resentment or testiness: When Joe was very hungry, he became extremely hyperirritable and cross with his family.
irritable (adjective), more irritable, most irritable
1. Susceptible to being exasperated or cantankerous: When grandpa was very hungry he became very irritable and disagreeable.
2. Prone to being abnormally sensitive in body parts: Uncle Tom had irritable bowels and had twinges of pain during the night as well as during the day.
irritable bowel syndrome, IBS; spastic colitis, mucus colitis, nervous colon syndrome
A common gastrointestinal disorder involving an abnormal condition of gut contractions (motility) characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, mucous in stools, and irregular bowel habits with alternating diarrhea and constipation, symptoms that tend to be chronic and to wax (increase) and wane (decrease) over the years.

Although IBS can cause chronic recurrent discomfort, it does not lead to any serious organ problems.

Making the diagnosis usually involves excluding other illnesses. Treatment is directed toward relief of symptoms and includes changes in diet (eating high fiber and avoiding caffeine, milk products and sweeteners), exercise, relaxation techniques, and medications.

irritancy
irritant
irritate (IR i tayt")
1. Annoy, vex, anger, make angry, make impatient, peeve, provoke, exasperate, irk: "The child's whining irritated the nurse."
2. Make painful, aggravate, make sensitive, inflame, make sore, make swollen, rub against, chafe: "Woolen clothing will irritate the rash."

Ire comes from Latin ira-, "anger", which also gives us irate, and irascible.

irritation
narcoticoirritant (s) (noun), narcoticoirritants (pl)
Substances and preparations that induce drowsiness.