valetudinarianism

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.

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[From Latin valtdinrius, from valtd, valtdin-, state of health, from valre, to be strong or well; see wal- in Indo-European roots.]

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vale·tudi·nari·an·ism n.

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valetudinarianism

1. a condition of poor health.
2. a state of being concerned with health, often excessively.
3. invalidism. — valetudinarian, n., adj.

See also: Health

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the condition of being overly concerned with one’s health. — valetudinarian, n., adj.

See also: Disease and Illness

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

valetudinarianism - the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age) debility, feebleness, frailness, frailty, infirmity unfitness, softness - poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury) asthenia, astheny - an abnormal loss of strength cachexia, cachexy, wasting - any general reduction in vitality and strength of body and mind resulting from a debilitating chronic disease