C17: from Latin hystericus literally: of the womb, from Greek husterikos, from hustera the womb; from the belief that hysteria in women originated in disorders of the womb
hysteric in American English
(hɪˈstɛrɪk)
adjective
1.
hysterical
noun
2. [usually pl., occas. with sing. v.]
a hysterical fit; hysteria (sense 2)
3.
a person subject to hysteria
Word origin
L hystericus < Gr hysterikos, suffering in the womb, hysterical < hystera, uterus: from the ancient notion that women were hysterical more often than men
Examples of 'hysteric' in a sentence
hysteric
Whatever she had said seemed to have led Downing to assume Mike was an incompetent hysteric !
Barbara Erskine HIDING FROM THE LIGHT (2003)
She was a neurotic hysteric with a pathological guilt complex.
Stewart, Michael COMPULSION (2003)
If she didn't make a report, then she was a silly hysteric who had acted on groundless fears.