valetudinarian
English
WOTD – 21 September 2007
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin valētūdinārius, from valētūdō (“state of health, health, ill health”), from valeō (“to be strong or well”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˌvæ.ləˌtuː.dəˈnɛ.ɹi.ən/
- (US)
(file)
Adjective
valetudinarian (comparative more valetudinarian, superlative most valetudinarian)
- Sickly, infirm, of ailing health
- January 1841, Thomas Macaulay, “Comic Dramatists of the Restoration”, in Edinburgh Review:
- The virtue which the world wants is a healthful virtue, not a valetudinarian virtue.
- 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter I, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, OCLC 1000392275, page 13:
- Mr. Granard became a valetudinarian; he was always applying to some physician or another, perhaps a little to their bewilderment, for no disease was apparent: they knew not that the improvident father feared to die, for the sake of five destitute orphans.
- 1910, Florence Anne Sellar MacCunn, Sir Walter Scott's Friends, page 234:
- The valetudinarian habit of discussing his health had grown on Rose […]
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- Being overly worried about one's health.
- 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, I.i:
- True Madam there are Valetudinarians in Reputation as well as constitution—who being conscious of their weak Part, avoid the least breath of air, and supply their want of Stamina by care and circumspection—
- 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, I.i:
Synonyms
- hypochondriac
- hypochondriacal
- valetudinary
Translations
of infirm health; sickly
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Noun
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.
- 1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 1, in Emma: […], volume I, London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, OCLC 1708336:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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?
- 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.
- 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)
Synonyms
- valetudinary
Synonyms
- hypochondriac
Derived terms
- valetudinarianism
Translations
person obsessed with their health
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References
- valetudinarian in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913