valetudinarian

noun

val·e·tu·di·nar·i·an | \ ˌva-lə-ˌtü-də-ˈner-ē-ən

, -ˌtyü-\

Definition of valetudinarian

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a person of a weak or sickly constitution especially : one whose chief concern is his or her ill health

valetudinarian

adjective

Definition of valetudinarian (Entry 2 of 2)

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a valetudinarian : sickly, weak

Did You Know?

Noun

Oddly enough, "valetudinarian," a word for someone who is sickly (or at least thinks he or she is) comes from "valēre," a Latin word that means "to be strong" or "to be well." Most of the English offspring of "valēre" imply having some kind of strength or force-consider, for instance, "valiant," "prevail," "valor," and "value." But the Latin valēre also gave rise to "valetudo." In Latin, "valetudo" refers to one's state of health (whether good or bad), but by the time that root had given rise to "valetudinarian" in the early 1700s, English-speaking pessimists had given it a decidedly sickly spin.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for valetudinarian

valetudinarian

noun

val·e·tu·di·nar·i·an | \ ˌval-ə-ˌt(y)üd-ᵊn-ˈer-ē-ən

Medical Definition of valetudinarian

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a person of a weak or sickly constitution especially : one whose chief concern is his or her ill health

valetudinarian

adjective

Medical Definition of valetudinarian (Entry 2 of 2)

: of, relating to, or being a valetudinarian : sickly

valetudinarian

Definition of valetudinarian

Did You Know?

First Known Use of valetudinarian

History and Etymology for valetudinarian

Medical Definition of valetudinarian

valetudinarian

Definition of valetudinarian

Did You Know?

First Known Use of valetudinarian

History and Etymology for valetudinarian

Medical Definition of valetudinarian

WORD OF THE DAY

apologia