from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
anaesthesia \an`[ae]s*the"si*a\, anesthesia
\an`es*the"si*a\([a^]n`[e^]s*th[=e]"z[-e]*[.a] or
[a^]n`[e^]s*th[=e]"zh[.a]), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'anaisqhsi`a;
'an priv. + a'i`sqhsis feeling, a'isqa`nesqai to feel: cf. F.
anesth['e]sie. See {aesthetics}.] (Med.)
Entire or partial loss or absence of feeling or sensation; a
state of general or local insensibility produced by disease
or by the inhalation or application of an anaesthetic. AS
[1913 Webster]