hydropathy

American  

[hahy-drop-uh-thee] / haɪˈdrɒp ə θi /

noun

1. the curing of disease by the internal and external use of water.

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hydropathy British  

/ haɪˈdrɒpəθɪ, ˌhaɪdrəʊˈpæθɪk /

noun

1. Also called: water cure.  a pseudoscientific method of treating disease by the use of large quantities of water both internally and externally Compare hydrotherapy

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hydropathical
  adjective
• hydropathic
  adjective
• hydropathist
  noun
• hydropath
  noun

Etymology

Origin of hydropathy

First recorded in 1835–45; hydro- ¹ + -pathy

Example Sentences

I try to find the "warm swimming baths" that the guide promises me - Matlock was known as the home of hydropathy - but Hartwell explains that today they've been transformed into an aquarium.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2017

Graham advocated baths and cleanliness in general to preserve health; hydropathy, or water cures for various ailments, became popular in the United States in the 1840s and 1850s.

From Textbooks • Dec. 30, 2014

Encouraging women to get involved in hydropathy contributed to the financial health of the nation’s water cures as well.

From Slate • Feb. 10, 2014

These societal assumptions could not help but influence perceptions about irregular health systems, particularly those like hydropathy and homeopathy where women took active leadership roles.

From Salon • Jan. 19, 2014

He finally tried to unite allopathy and hydropathy, and to invoke their combined forces.

From Forty Years in the Wilderness of Pills and Powders Cogitations and Confessions of an Aged Physician by Alcott, William A. (William Andrus)