alienist

[ eyl-yuh-nist, ey-lee-uh- ]

noun

1. (formerly) a doctor specializing in the treatment of mental illness.
2. an expert witness in a sanity trial.

alienist

/ ˈeɪljənɪst; ˈeɪlɪə- /

noun

1. a psychiatrist who specializes in the legal aspects of mental illness
2. obsolete.
   a person who practises alienism

Word History and Origins

Origin of alienist¹

1860–65; alien(ation) + -ist; compare French aliéniste in same sense

Example Sentences

There might have been employment here for the alienist or for those who circulate the pledge; but I had had enough of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Dr. Carew proved to be a young and enthusiastic alienist whose heart and soul was in his work.

From Project Gutenberg

By way of a joke we tackled a medical alienist who had a seat on the commission.

From Project Gutenberg

It is possible, however, that this very opinion may be a fixed idea or symptomatic eccentricity of the alienist himself.

From Project Gutenberg

I think we'll have to take him up to the city to consult some prominent alienist, as the newspapers would say.

From Project Gutenberg