abulia

[ uh-byoo-lee-uh, uh-boo- ]

/ əˈbyu li ə, əˈbu- /

noun Psychiatry.

a symptom of mental disorder involving impairment or loss of volition.

Nearby words

Also aboulia.

Origin of abulia

1840–50; < New Latin, probably not < Greek aboulíā thoughtlessness, but freshly formed from a-⁶, Greek boulḗ will, -ia

Related formsa·bu·lic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for abulia

To shun competition and responsibility is characteristic of abulia.
Psychology|Robert S. Woodworth
So they show a condition of perfect 'abulia,' or inability to will or act.
Talks To Teachers On Psychology; And To Students On Some Of Life's Ideals|William James
Abulia is not just a comfortable laziness, but is attended by a sense of humiliation and inferiority.
Psychology|Robert S. Woodworth

British Dictionary definitions for abulia

abulia

aboulia

/ (əˈbuːlɪə, -ˈbjuː-) /

noun

psychiatry a pathological inability to take decisions

Derived Formsabulic, adjective

Word Origin for abulia

C19: New Latin, from Greek aboulia lack of resolution, from a- 1 + boulē will

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for abulia

abulia

n.

Loss or impairment of the ability to make decisions or act independently.

Related formsa•bu′lic (-lĭk) adj.