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valetudinarian

   Also found in: Medical 0.01 sec.
val·e·tu·di·nar·i·an  (vl-tdn-âr-n, -tyd-)
n.
A sickly or weak person, especially one who is constantly and morbidly concerned with his or her health: "She affected to be spunky about her ailments and afflictions, but she was in fact an utterly self-centered valetudinarian" Louis Auchincloss.
adj.
1. Chronically ailing; sickly.
2. Constantly and morbidly concerned with one's health.
[From Latin valtdinrius, from valtd, valtdin-, state of health, from valre, to be strong or well; see wal- in Indo-European roots.]
vale·tudi·nari·an·ism n.
valetudinarian [val-lit-yew-din-air-ee-an]
Noun
1. a person who is chronically sick
2. a person who continually worries about his or her health [Latin valetudo state of health]
valetudinarianism n
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.valetudinarian - weak or sickly person especially one morbidly concerned with his or her health
diseased person, sick person, sufferer - a person suffering from an illness
Adj.1.valetudinarian - of or relating to or characteristic of a person who is a valetudinarian
valetudinary
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But his eminence as a valetudinarian now made him an object of engrossing interest, and Mrs.
The Age of Innocence by Wharton, Edith View in context
Yes, I said; a reward which a man might fairly expect who never understood that, if Asclepius did not instruct his descendants in valetudinarian arts, the omission arose, not from ignorance or inexperience of such a branch of medicine, but because he knew that in all well-ordered states every individual has an occupation to which he must attend, and has therefore no leisure to spend in continually being ill.
The Republic by Plato View in context
Woodhouse had not married early) was much increased by his constitution and habits; for having been a valetudinarian all his life, without activity of mind or body, he was a much older man in ways than in years; and though everywhere beloved for the friendliness of his heart and his amiable temper, his talents could not have recommended him at any time.
Emma by Austen, Jane View in context
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