different between hypochondria vs valetudinarian

English

Etymology 1

From New Latin hypochondria (the morbid condition so called, supposed to have its seat in the upper part of the abdomen), from New Latin hypochondrium (see English hypochondrium for more).

Alternative forms

• hypochondry (dated)

Noun

hypochondria (uncountable)

1. (medicine) A psychological disorder characterized by excessive preoccupation or worry about having a serious illness.
2. (obsolete, medicine) Melancholy; depression
   • 1833, Richard Robert Madden, The Infirmities of Genius Illustrated by Referring the Anomalies in the Literary Character to the Habits and Constitutional Peculiarities of Men of Genius, page 96

     Such labours as these, if they do not shorten life, are calculated to make it wretched, for hypochondria invariably follows close upon them.

   • 1845, Life of G. W. von Leibnitz. On the basis of the German work of ... G. E. Guhrauer, page 275

     His own temperament appears to have been neither purely sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, nor melancholic [...] not melancholy, since he is entirely free from hypochondria, thinks rapidly, and has an active will.

   • 1849, Franz Hartmann, Charles Julius Hempel, Theory of acute diseases, and their homoeopathic treatment, page 200

     Nux likewise corresponds to hypochondria caused by rich and excessive living. In general, Nux is the best remedy for hypochondria arising from a morbid condition of the abdominal nerves ; after dinner, the patients generally experience a feeling of malaise and langour.

Usage notes

• The technical use of hypochondria is as a synonym for hypochondriasis, while the colloquial use approximates somatization disorder (a different somatoform disorder). In cases where ambiguity is undesirable and the context may not be sufficient to identify the intended sense, it may be preferable to avoid the term hypochondria, using one of these terms instead.

Antonyms

• hyperchondria

Related terms

Translations

Etymology 2

Noun

hypochondria

1. plural of hypochondrium

Further reading

• hypochondria in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• hypochondria in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• hypochondria at OneLook Dictionary Search

Portuguese

Noun

hypochondria f (plural hypochondrias)

1. Obsolete spelling of hipocondria (used in Portugal until September 1911 and died out in Brazil during the 1920s).

English

Etymology

From Latin val?t?din?rius, from valetudo (“state of health, health, ill health”), from valere (“to be strong or well”) +? -an.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?væ.l??tu?.d??n?.?i.?n/
• (US)

Adjective

valetudinarian (comparative more valetudinarian, superlative most valetudinarian)

1. Sickly, infirm, of ailing health
   • 1910, Florence Anne Sellar MacCunn, Sir Walter Scott's Friends, p. 234

     The valetudinarian habit of discussing his health had grown on Rose...

   • 1841, Thomas Macaulay, Comic Dramatists of the Restoration (printed in Edinburgh Review, January 1841)

     The virtue which the world wants is a healthful virtue, not a valetudinarian virtue.

2. Being overly worried about one's health

Synonyms

• hypochondriac
• hypochondriacal
• valetudinary

Translations

Noun

valetudinarian (plural valetudinarians)

1. A person in poor health or sickly, especially one who is constantly obsessed with their state of health
   • 1787, Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, July 6, 1787 in The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Paul Leicester Ford (ed.), Vol. 5, pp. 300-01 (NY: 1904)

     The most uninformed mind, with a healthy body, is happier than the wisest valetudinarian.

   • 1815, Jane Austen, Emma, Vol. I, Ch. 1

     The evil of the actual disparity in their ages (and Mr. 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.

   • 1884, Dixon Kemp, A Manual of Yacht and Boat Sailing (4th Ed.)

     The cuisine, of course, would not be such as would raise water bubbles in the mouth of a valetudinarian; the carnivorous propensity will mostly be gratified by steak which, when cut, will resemble the Mudhook Yacht Club burgee of rouge et noir; and savory soups and luscious salmon will be luxuries only obtainable in "cannister" form.

   • 1950, Mervyn Peake, Gormenghast

     Are you a mere valetudinarian, my dear Ladyship, or some prolific mendicant whose bewitched offspring she hopes I can return to human shape?

   • 1985, Louis Auchincloss, Honorable Men

     She affected to be spunky about her ailments and afflictions, but she was in fact an utterly self-centered valetudinarian.

Synonyms

• valetudinary

Derived terms

• valetudinarianism

Translations

Synonyms

• hypochondriac

References

• valetudinarian in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.