epiphenomenon

[ ep-uh-fuh-nom-uh-non, -nuhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural ep·i·phe·nom·e·na [ep-, uh, -f, uh, -, nom, -, uh, -n, uh], ep·i·phe·nom·e·nons.

Pathology. a secondary or additional symptom or complication arising during the course of a disease.
any secondary phenomenon.

epiphenomenon

/ ˌɛpɪfɪˈnɒmɪnən /

a secondary or additional phenomenon; by-product
pathol an unexpected or atypical symptom or occurrence during the course of a disease

First recorded in 1700–10; epi- + phenomenon

But some demon prompted me to inquire of my father the meaning of the term “epiphenomenon.”

Consciousness in a mere automaton,” writes Professor Lloyd Morgan, “is a useless and unnecessary epiphenomenon.

The term "epiphenomenon" has been adopted to express the distinctness but entire dependence of the mind.

And more than one modern has called it an epiphenomenon—an absurd term.

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