valetudinarian

1 of 2

noun

val·​e·​tu·​di·​nar·​i·​an ˌva-lə-ˌtü-də-ˈner-ē-ən 

-ˌtyü-

: a person of a weak or sickly constitution

especially : one whose chief concern is his or her ill health

valetudinarian

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a valetudinarian : sickly, weak

Did you know?

Oddly enough, valetudinarian, a word for someone who is sickly (or at least thinks he or she is), comes from valēre, a Latin word that means "to have strength" or "to be well." Most of the English offspring of valēre imply having some kind of strength or force—consider, for instance, valiant, prevail, valor, and value. But the Latin valēre also gave rise to valētūdō. In Latin, valētūdō refers to one's state of health (whether good or bad), but by the time that root had given rise to valetudinarian in the late 17th century, English-speaking pessimists had given it a decidedly sickly spin.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

valetudinary entry 1 + -an entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1684, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1713, in the meaning defined above

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Medical Definition

valetudinarian

1 of 2 noun

val·​e·​tu·​di·​nar·​i·​an ˌval-ə-ˌt(y)üd-ᵊn-ˈer-ē-ən 

: a person of a weak or sickly constitution

especially : one whose chief concern is his or her ill health

valetudinarian

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or being a valetudinarian : sickly