allergy
nounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom/[ˈæl.ə.dʒi]/
- United States/[ˈæl.ɚ.d͡ʒi]/
- //ˈæl.əɹ.d͡ʒi//
A disorder of the immune system causing adverse reactions to substances (allergens) not harmful to most and marked by the body's production of histamines and associated with atopy, anaphylaxis, and asthma; any condition of hypersensitivity to a substance.
noun
- 1
A disorder of the immune system causing adverse reactions to substances (allergens) not harmful to most and marked by the body's production of histamines and associated with atopy, anaphylaxis, and asthma; any condition of hypersensitivity to a substance.
My dad can't live with pets because of an allergy.
- 2
A disorder of the immune system causing adverse reactions to substances (allergens) not harmful to most and marked by the body's production of histamines and associated with atopy, anaphylaxis, and asthma; any condition of hypersensitivity to a substance. Specifically, hypersensitivity of class I in the modern classification thereof: the immunoglobulin E–mediated type.
- 3
figurativeAn antipathy, as toward a person or activity.
He has an allergy to reality TV.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos Proto-Hellenic *áľľos Ancient Greek ᾰ̓́λλος (ắllos) Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-om Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom Proto-Graeco-Phrygian *wérgon Proto-Hellenic *wérgon Ancient Greek ἔργον (érgon) German Allergiebor. English allergy Borrowed from German Allergie. Coined by Austrian pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet in 1906 from Ancient Greek ἄλλος (állos, “other”) + ἔργον (érgon, “work, activity”), on the model of Energie.
Forms
- plural
- allergies
allergy · A disorder of the immune system causing adverse reactions to substances (allergens) not harmful to most and marked by the body's production of…
alley · A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the…Alley · A surname.alliance · The state of being allied.