sensitize

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree English sensitive Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English sensitize From sensitive + -ize.

1. To make (someone or something) sensitive or responsive to certain stimuli.

   “Anaphylaxis is the syndrome elicited in a hypersensitive subject upon subsequent exposure to the sensitizing antigen.”

   “Great emphasis should be placed on sensitizing the hands to the feel of the water, and the hands should remain sensitized throughout the workout.[…]Swimmers should sensitize the hands at the beginning of every workout by swimming the first 200 meters with their fists tightly clenched.”

2. To make (someone) increasingly aware of, in a concerned or sensitive way.

   “Ever since the burglary, we've been more sensitized to home security issues.”

   “At least two stations have been sensitized towards the position gay media professionals […] have to take to protect their job security.”

3. To render capable of being acted on by actinic rays of light.