irritancy
irritancy Lexical Profile
irritancy Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The quality or state of being irritating, or the capacity of a substance to cause physiological inflammation or irritation.
"The laboratory tested the new cosmetic formula to ensure its skin irritancy remained below the safety threshold."
Scottish In Scots law, the forfeiture or rendering null and void of a right, contract, or lease due to a breach of condition or non-payment of rent.
"The commercial landlord served a notice of irritancy after the tenant failed to pay rent for three consecutive quarters."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word 'irritancy' derives from two distinct Latin roots: 'irritare' (to provoke or inflame) in medical and general contexts, and 'irritus' (invalid or void) in Scots law, where a 'clause of irritancy' allows a landlord to terminate a lease upon breach.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The general sense derives from Latin 'irritare' ('to provoke or excite'), while the Scots legal sense derives from Late Latin 'irritare' ('to make void'), from Latin 'irritus' ('invalid, useless').