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invalidism

American  
[in-vuh-li-diz-uhm] / ˈɪn və lɪˌdɪz əm /

noun

  1. prolonged ill health.


invalidism British  
/ ˈɪnvəlɪˌdɪzəm /

noun

  1. the state of being an invalid, esp by reason of ill health

  2. a state of being abnormally preoccupied with one's physical health

"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

Etymology

Origin of invalidism

First recorded in 1785–95; invalid 1 + -ism

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.

But though they offered unprecedented mobility, these wicker-and-wood chairs were seen as a sign of invalidism and dependence—and couldn’t have been more different from the modern wheelchairs that offer even more ways to move.

From National Geographic

A shortened period of invalidism is fully as important in maintaining the numerical strength of an army as is the keeping up of a supply of fresh reinforcements.

From Nature

Florence Nightingale and Elizabeth Barrett Browning used invalidism as a way to carve out time, space and mental freedom so that they could get on with reforming the Indian army and writing lyric verse respectively.

From The Guardian

At twenty-one, long before ill-fitting dentures and self-imposed invalidism, my grandmother was something of a beauty.

From Literature

She waited on her without complaint, but she managed subtly to extract from her the price of her invalidism.

From Literature