valetudinarian
/ˌvæ.ləˌtu.dəˈnɛ.ɹi.ən/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
18
Scrabble Score
14
Letters
6
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Sickly, infirm, of ailing health; related to ill health.
noun
A person in poor health or sickly, especially one who is constantly obsessed with their state of health
Example Sentences
- "The virtue which the world wants is a healthful virtue, not a valetudinarian virtue."
- "Mr. Granard became a valetudinarian; he was always applying to some physician or another, perhaps a little to their bewilderment, for no disease was apparent: they knew not that the improvident father feared to die, for the sake of five destitute orphans."
- "The valetudinarian habit of discussing his health had grown on Rose[…]"
- "True Madam there are Valetudinarians in Reputation as well as constitution—who being conscious of their weak Part, avoid the least breath of air, and supply their want of Stamina by care and circumspection—"
- "The most uninformed mind, with a healthy body, is happier than the wisest valetudinarian."
- "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."
Etymology
From Latin valētūdin- + -arian, from oblique stem of Latin valētūdō, from valeō + -tūdō. By surface analysis, valetude + -arian.
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌvæ.ləˌtu.dəˈnɛ.ɹi.ən/
- British English: /ˌvæ.ləˌtuː.dɪˈnɛə.ɹi.ən/