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cacoëthes

or cac·o·e·thes

[ kak-oh-ee-theez ]
/ ˌkæk oʊˈi θiz /
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noun
an irresistible urge; mania.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Origin of cacoëthes

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin, from Greek kakóēthes, neuter (used as noun) of kakoḗthēs “malignant,” literally, “of bad character”; see caco-, ethos
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cacoëthes in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cacoëthes

cacoethes
/ (ˌkækəʊˈiːθiːz) /

noun
an uncontrollable urge or desire, esp for something harmful; maniaa cacoethes for smoking

Derived forms of cacoethes

cacoethic (ˌkækəʊˈɛθɪk), adjective

Word Origin for cacoethes

C16: from Latin cacoēthes malignant disease, from Greek kakoēthēs of an evil disposition, from kakos caco- + ēthos character
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
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