Hysterical reasons
(Or “hysterical raisins”) A variant on the stock phrase “for historical reasons”, indicating specifically that something must be done in some stupid way for backward compatibility, and moreover that the feature it must be compatible with was the result of a bad design in the first place. “All IBM PC video adaptors have to support MDA text mode for hysterical reasons.” Compare bug-for-bug compatible.
[Jargon File]
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[hi-ster-ik] /hɪˈstɛr ɪk/ noun 1. Usually, hysterics. a fit of uncontrollable laughter or weeping; . 2. a person subject to . adjective 3. . /hɪˈstɛrɪks/ noun (functioning as pl or singular) 1. an attack of hysteria 2. (informal) wild uncontrollable bursts of laughter /hɪˈstɛrɪk/ noun 1. a hysterical person adjective 2. hysterical n. 1727, from […]
- Hystero-
1. a combining form meaning “uterus,” used in the formation of compound words: hysterotomy. combining form 1. indicating the uterus: hysterotomy 2. hysteria: hysterogenic hystero- or hyster- pref.
- Hysterocatalepsy
hysterocatalepsy hys·ter·o·cat·a·lep·sy (hĭs’tə-rō-kāt’l-ěp’sē) n. Hysteria with cataleptic manifestations.
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hysterocele hys·ter·o·cele (hĭs’tə-rō-sēl’) n.
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hysterocleisis hys·ter·o·clei·sis (hĭs’tə-rō-klī’sĭs) n. pl. hys·ter·o·clei·ses (-sēz’) Surgical occlusion of the uterus.