cacoëthes
noun
an irresistible urge; mania.
cacoëthes
American
[kak-oh-ee-theez]
/ ˌkæk oʊˈi θiz /
Or
cacoethes
noun
cacoethes
British
/ ˌkækəʊˈiːθiːz /
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Remember that the slightest act of volition on your part can exalt my pecuniary status to the skies, as well as confer distinguished and unparagoned ennoblement upon your cacoëthes scribendi.
From Baboo Jabberjee, B.A. by F. Anstey
His father designed him for the law, and he studied the institutes at the Philadelphia Law Academy, but like Schumann, he was spoiled for briefs by the stronger pull of music and the cacoëthes scribendi.
From A Book of Prefaces by H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken
The cacoëthes scribendi is a disease common, not to imaginative, but to imitative, minds.
From Methods of Authors by Hugo Erichsen
For the Madigans' Aunt Anne was afflicted with cacoëthes scribendi, and was never so happy as when there was a letter to be written—except when she was actually writing it.
From The Madigans by Orson Lowell
The conditions just now are exceptionally favourable--that is, a cacoëthes scribendi has coincided with abundance of matter to write about, but the organs of the great external world naturally provide a model for the writer.
From Aspects of Modern Oxford by A. D. (Alfred Denis) Godley
Most of us suffer in some degree From cacoethes loquendi, Yet some who deplore it at length seem to be Afflicted with ditto scribendi.
From Time Magazine Archive
But my physician informs me that I have got the "cacoethes scribendi," which he says is as bad as the small-pox, toothache, and yellow fever.
From Doesticks, What He Says by Q. K. Philander Doesticks
We quite agree with Admiral Smyth when he says, "It is a pity that Mr. Brydone laboured under such a cacoethes, as to sacrifice a friend for the sake of a good story."
From Etna A History of the Mountain and of its Eruptions by G. F. Rodwell
Among the rest she was seized with what we men call a cacoethes of the needle: "a raging desire" for work.
From White Lies by Charles Reade
I do not believe that there are any cases of the cacoethes subscribendi.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 101, March, 1866 by Various
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