HYSTERESIS

[hys.ter.e.sis] n, pl -e.ses [NL, fr. Gk hysteresis shortcoming, fr. hysterein to be late, fall short, fr. hysteros later--more at out] (1881): a retardation of an effect when the forces acting upon a body are changed (as if from viscosity or internal friction); esp: a lagging in the values of resulting magnetization in a magnetic material (as iron) due to a changing magnetizing force -- hys.ter.et.ic adj