English [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

From Latin valētūdinārius, from valetudo (“state of health, health, ill health”), from valere (“to be strong or well”) +‎ -an.

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Adjective [ edit ]

valetudinarian (comparative more valetudinarian, superlative most valetudinarian)

Sickly, infirm, of ailing health 1910 , Florence Anne Sellar MacCunn, Sir Walter Scott's Friends , p. 234 The valetudinarian habit of discussing his health had grown on Rose...

, Florence Anne Sellar MacCunn, , p. 234 1841, Thomas Macaulay, Comic Dramatists of the Restoration (printed in Edinburgh Review, January 1841) The virtue which the world wants is a healthful virtue, not a valetudinarian virtue. Being overly worried about one's health

Synonyms [ edit ]

Translations [ edit ]

Noun [ edit ]

valetudinarian (plural valetudinarians)

A person in poor health or sickly, especially one who is constantly obsessed with their state of health 1787 , Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, July 6, 1787 in The Works of Thomas Jefferson , Paul Leicester Ford (ed.), Vol. 5, pp. 300-01 (NY: 1904) The most uninformed mind, with a healthy body, is happier than the wisest valetudinarian .

, Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, July 6, 1787 in , Paul Leicester Ford (ed.), Vol. 5, pp. 300-01 (NY: 1904) 1815 , Jane Austen, Emma , Vol. I, Ch. 1 The evil of the actual disparity in their ages (and Mr. Woodhouse had not married early) was much increased by his constitution and habits; for having been a valetudinarian all his life, without activity of mind or body, he was a much older man in ways than in years; and though everywhere beloved for the friendliness of his heart and his amiable temper, his talents could not have recommended him at any time.

, Jane Austen, , Vol. I, Ch. 1 1884 , Dixon Kemp, A Manual of Yacht and Boat Sailing (4th Ed.) The cuisine, of course, would not be such as would raise water bubbles in the mouth of a valetudinarian ; the carnivorous propensity will mostly be gratified by steak which, when cut, will resemble the Mudhook Yacht Club burgee of rouge et noir ; and savory soups and luscious salmon will be luxuries only obtainable in "cannister" form.

, Dixon Kemp, (4th Ed.) 1950 , Mervyn Peake, Gormenghast Are you a mere valetudinarian , my dear Ladyship, or some prolific mendicant whose bewitched offspring she hopes I can return to human shape?

, Mervyn Peake, 1985, Louis Auchincloss, Honorable Men She affected to be spunky about her ailments and afflictions, but she was in fact an utterly self-centered valetudinarian.

Synonyms [ edit ]

Derived terms [ edit ]

Translations [ edit ]

person obsessed with their health French: hypocondriaque (fr) m

Georgian: ჰიპოქონდრიაკი ( hiṗokondriaḳi )

Greek: υποχόνδριος (el) m ( ypochóndrios ) (ypochóndrios) Spanish: hipocondríaco (es) m

Synonyms [ edit ]