cacoëthes

American  

[kak-oh-ee-theez] / ˌkæk oʊˈi θiz /

Or cacoethes

noun

1. an irresistible urge; mania.

---

cacoethes British  

/ ˌkækəʊˈiːθiːz, ˌkækəʊˈɛθɪk /

noun

1. an uncontrollable urge or desire, esp for something harmful; mania

   a cacoethes for smoking

---

Other Word Forms

• cacoethic adjective

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”; caco-, ethos

Example Sentences

There were many things the kindly veteran would smooth over in order not to wound sensitive minds bitten with the cacoëthes scribendi.

From Victor Hugo: His Life and Works by Smith, G. Barnett

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 Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis)

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 Lowell, Orson

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 Anstey, F.

The cacoëthes scribendi is a disease common, not to imaginative, but to imitative, minds.

From Methods of Authors by Erichsen, Hugo