valetudinarian

[ val-i-tood-n-air-ee-uhn, -tyood- ]

noun

1. an invalid.
2. a person who is excessively concerned about their own poor health or ailments.

adjective

1. in poor health; sickly; invalid.
2. excessively concerned about one's poor health or ailments.
3. of, relating to, or characterized by invalidism.

valetudinarian

/ ˌvælɪˌtjuːdɪˈnɛərɪən; ˌvælɪˈtjuːdɪnərɪ /

noun

1. a person who is or believes himself to be chronically sick; invalid
2. a person excessively worried about the state of his health; hypochondriac

adjective

1. relating to, marked by, or resulting from poor health
2. being a valetudinarian
3. trying to return to a healthy state

Derived Forms

• ˌvaleˌtudiˈnarianˌism, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of valetudinarian¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; valetudinary + -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of valetudinarian¹

C18: from Latin valētūdō state of health, from valēre to be well

Example Sentences

I felt that, were I to remain where I was, I should die, or become a confirmed valetudinarian.

From Project Gutenberg

In a few months the trustee settled at Boulogne died; the trust, of course, lapsed to Mr. Stubmore, the valetudinarian survivor.

From Project Gutenberg

"Which is certainly not suggestive of a valetudinarian," remarked Lucian, looking hard at the stranger.

From Project Gutenberg

In person he was very thin and somewhat under the middle height, and had all the air of a confirmed valetudinarian.

From Project Gutenberg

Or they live the years when men should be still in their prime—valetudinarian and hypochondriac.

From Project Gutenberg