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

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

Etymology

Origin of hydropathy

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

Example Sentences

Hydropathy grew out of the observations and experiments of Vincent Priessnitz.

From Slate • Feb. 10, 2014

Hydropathy took the radical step of naturalizing women’s life stages.

From Slate • Feb. 10, 2014

Hydropathy has done its worst; he writes the names of his friends in water.

From Letters of Edward FitzGerald in two volumes, Vol. 1 by Wright, William Aldis

Hydropathy also supplies us with various remedies for constipation.

From Advice to a Mother on the Management of Her Children by Chavasse, Pye Henry

I am off to-morrow for a week of Hydropathy.

From Life and Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 1 by Darwin, Francis, Sir